Audi may have plans to almost double its model offerings worldwide by 2015 (see separate story here) but locally it's taken the bull by the horns -- expanding its high performance quattro model count by three. And in time for Christmas!
The new models are the Lamborghini Gallardo-based V10-powered S6 and S8 plus the latest wagon version (Avant in Audi-speak) of the impressive V8-engined RS 4.
Priced from $168,100 ($3600 more than the sedan version) the 309kW RS 4 Avant is the new top-of-the-range model in the A4 series. Its place at the top of the A4 tree will be short-lived, however -- a Cabriolet arrives in January 2007, priced at $187,500.
The soft-top's arrival will see the A4 range span almost $140,000. The A4 range kicks off at $47,800 with a 'cooking model' 2.0-litre front-wheel drive offering.
The S6 boasts a 5.2-litre V10 engine with FSI technology and an output of 320kW/540Nm. The model represents the first time that a V10 engine has been incorporated into a member of the A6 family, says Audi.
The S6 is priced from $195,900 and as you'd expect comes with a bevy of driver aides, safety equipment and flash interior finishes and kit.
Half limo, half uber-sports-sedan, the new S8 features 331kW/540Nm version of the Lamborghini-inspired V10. Priced from $259,900, it's book-ended by the V8 and V12 petrol-engined A8 models priced from $210,000 and $326,000 respectively.
Expect equipment levels to be commensurate with the A8s and handling and performance to be a touch sharper.
According to Audi, the S8 "sprints from a standstill to 100km/h" in just 5.1sec. This is 0.1sec quicker than the S6 and 1.2sec faster than the standard A8. Both 'S' cars have an electronically-limited top speed of approximately 250km/h.