New Audi RS 6 Avant debuts with 800Nm

Now here’s something to dominate the boat ramp. It’s the new Audi RS 6 Avant complete with a 441kW biturbo V8 engine, 305km/h top speed and 2.5-tonne braked towing capacity.

And Audi Sport says you can tow that 2.5 tonnes at 305km/h if you really want to … in theory anyway.

“It’s up to you to try it … we haven’t tested it,” admitted Audi tech boffin Andrei Filep at a recent preview of the RS 6 in Germany.

On sale in Australia in mid-2020, the fourth-generation RS 6 is again derived from the donor A6 Avant. But this time, the standard wagon won’t be seen in Australia.

Instead, the A6 sedan is now launching here as the mainstream mainstay, with the new A6 Allroad expected to join it in 2020.

The new Audi RS 6 Avant is a spectacular 80mm wider than the A6 at 1951mm wide and looks positively evil with its narrow headlights sourced from the A7.

Sharing only the roof, tailgate and front doors with the donor car, it rolls on a choice of 21 and 22-inch wheels and features a compact new singleframe grille that will flow through the RS line-up.

Pricing and Australian specification for the new RS 6 has yet to be confirmed, but you can use $250,000 (plus on-road costs) as a rough guide.

Updated with 3mm bigger turbos and 0.2 bar higher pressure, the TFSI 4.0-litre engine’s 441kW/800Nm is just shy of the outgoing RS 6 performance model’s 445kW, but tops it by 50Nm in terms of torque.

With the aid of a new launch control function, it is 0.1sec faster to 100km/h than the performance at 3.6 secs and hauls on to 200km/h in 12 seconds. It offers the same choice of three top speeds as before: 250km/h, 280km/h and 305km/h depending on how much you want to spend.

So how does that compare to the key rivals? The $234,900 4.4-litre V8 BMW M5 Competition sedan makes 460kW and 750Nm and accelerates to 100km/h in 3.3sec. The $240,540 Mercedes-AMG E 63 S sedan makes 450kW and 850Nm from its 4.0-litre V8 and accelerates to 100km/h in 3.3sec.

Of course, you can expect a ‘performance’ version of the new RS 6 to appear at some stage sometime soon to up the ante again.

A 48-volt mild-hybrid system is a key update to the engine. It regenerates up to 12kW stored in a 0.5kW/h li-ion battery under the floor in the boot and is called in to service to run functions and restart the car when it’s coasting.

Audi Sport claims a fuel saving of up to 0.8L/100km, but has yet to post a claimed fuel consumption number for the RS 6. Cylinder on demand, which can shut down four cylinders on light loads, carries over.

An eight-speed torque converter auto feeds the permanent all-wheel drive system, which runs 40/60 front/rear, but can divert torque up to 70 per cent front and 85 per cent rear.

Unlike the M5 and E 63, the system does not have a hoon mode that effectively turns it into a rear-wheel drive at the flick of a switch.

Filep admits Audi Sport consider the feature, but it was dismissed because there was no demand from customers.

“Our customers are more focussing on everyday drivability with the car,” he explained. “They are really using it as a day to day car, they are going with it to vacation, they are doing a lot of stuff with this car that the others are not doing in this complexity.”

The Audi RS 6 Avant now features variable-ratio and all-wheel steering. While air suspension is standard, more track-oriented Dynamic Ride Control (DRC) cross-axle hydraulic damping is optional.

The braking systems are steel or ceramic, with the front discs measuring 420mm and 440mm respectively. Yep. Front callipers are 10-piston. Yep.

So, it’s at this point where the towing comes in. Previously the RS 6 could only tow using air suspension with a speed limit. It’s now been OK’d with the DRC as well. Audi Sport is even offering the option of a camera-based trailer reversing and manoeuvring system.

The RS 6 can now carry a larger onboard load, with 565 litres of luggage space behind row two and 1680 litres when the 40:20:40 bench is folded down.

Drivers can customise the RS 6 via new RS1 and RS2 modes, which affects everything from suspension set-up to exhaust sound. These are in addition to the standard comfort, auto, dynamic and efficiency drive select modes.

Inside the RS 6 shares the same new dual-screen MMI touch response display as the A6 and gets an RS version of the digital virtual cockpit, with information on tyre pressure, torque, power output, engine oil temperature, boost pressure, lap timings, acceleration measurements and g-forces.

Interior features include a flat-bottom leather steering wheel, aluminium flappy paddles and sports seats in black pearl Nappa leather/Alcantara.

New to Audi RS 6 Avant is the option of Matrix LED headlights. Other options include a sports exhaust system, a head-up display, sports seats in Valcona leather and inlays in carbon, wood or aluminium.

Australia is likely to take standard the dynamic package that bumps top speed to 280kmh, adds the quattro sports diff and all-wheel steering.

Dynamic package plus, which ups the top speed to 305km/h and adds ceramic brakes, will be optional.