Spy Shots: Audi RS6 tweaked
by John Neff on Jun 30th 2008 at 12:32PM 
Click above for high-res gallery of Audi RS6 spy shots
The Audi RS6 is about to receive some sheetmetal tweaks that both bring the super sedan's exterior styling more in line with the corporate design language and give it a decidedly more devilish look than the standard A6 or sportier S6. Out back the RS6 drops the current A6 taillights for a pair that appear lifted directly off the A5. It's a good switch, as the A5's rear end is decidedly more simple and clean the current A6. We would expect to see the same udpate made across the A6 line very soon. Up front the car gets new air intakes that flank the gaping grille, which include one big intake on either side that are capped by a smaller inlet right at the leading edge of the front fenders. The headlights also sport a row of LEDs along their bottom as well as an eyelid of some sort above, which gives the RS6's face a mean glare. Of course, behind those glaring eyes lie a 5.0L twin-turbo V10 producing well above 500 horsepower that can back up the serious stare.
[Source: KGP Photography]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tsunami Racer 12:44PM (6/30/2008)
i like the subtle rear deck spoiler, similar to the one on the RS4.
wonder if we get the RS6 sedan here in the states. we got hosed on the wago.... i mean, Avant.
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ted 12:53PM (6/30/2008)
What's the market on wagon variants of super sedans? I know we got the W211 AMGs state-side, but I've only seen two ever. If the E39 made it, I'd be all over it.
Cary 9:39PM (6/30/2008)
I've seen both E63 and M5 in the wagon form here in Orange County, Ca. A few times each. The E63s were silver, and one black. The M5 was that dark blue, one black, and I've seen one in that dark metallic red.
shawn 12:56PM (6/30/2008)
They should have kept those little brake vents on the bottom of the front fenders like the rs4...........it would have looked a lot better.........cause this front end looks rather plain for a 500+HP car........it should be more aggressive.....anyways just an idea....
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Trojan man 1:04PM (6/30/2008)
The lights almost look like the crappy glazed over plastic lenses from an 80's era GM car. The rear re-style came out good, but the front seems to have taken anonymity a little too far. Hopefully it looks better in person, and comes in under 2.5 tons.
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Matt 1:14PM (6/30/2008)
@Shawn and @Trojan man, agree on both points. The A6 and S6 have always looked a bit bland, especially up front. The big corporate Audi grille took awhile to grow on me for the A4, and still really only works well on the RS4 because of the aggressive, squared-off look to the front bumper fascia. It also looks good on the A8 due to the size of the vehicle. But the A6 has always missed the mark, and this latest refresh still isn't winning me over. The brake lights do look better, and the wheels are kind-of a copy of the 911 Turbo but still look pretty good.
Matt 1:04PM (6/30/2008)
'Decidedly' is perhaps the most inappropriately overused word in the English language. I'd almost rather hear 'irregardless' - well, maybe not. But it sure is close.
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Tyler Faust 1:26PM (6/30/2008)
Of all the mistakes in this "udpate," you caught only that one?
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PaulPaul 1:27PM (6/30/2008)
Mommy.
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comctrl6 2:14PM (6/30/2008)
As long as we're pointing out small grammatical mistakes:
The the following excerpt:
"...more simple and clean the current..."
"simple" and "clean" are adjectives that are less than three syllables. For these adjectives the superlative form is the adjective plus the "er" suffix. So the correct form of the above would be:
"...simpler and cleaner than the..."
Just something to keep in mind :)
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Hamud 2:23PM (6/30/2008)
I really like Audis, their engines, interior and all, but please, stop making all darn cars with the same design. This RS6 looks like an A3 from the front... Design language is different from "make them all look the same".
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Bill Montgomery 6:09PM (6/30/2008)
I have a S5 and I dont think it looks anything like the RS6 nor the A3. How many different ways can you use a corporate grill? This car has a much more aggressive bumper than my S5, and the fenders are about as different as you can get with the blistered 'Quattro' fenders from the 1980s Original Coupe Quattro. I hope it has more horsepower in the sedan because 580 BHP is for the birds. Make it an even 600 BHP or better yet drop the corporate Veyron 1000 BHP engine in there and call it a day.
tom 5:39PM (6/30/2008)
Those taillights make the car look like a small car.
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Bill Montgomery 6:13PM (6/30/2008)
Except this car has a much larger power plant and probably needs the front vents to be functional for the twin intercoolers. Function was probably more important than looks at that point. Front end looks identical to the Avant that was announced months ago with the 580 V10 Bi-turbo:
http://fp.images.autos.msn.com/media/580x348/e7/e76a46cca1264145aa3f2926ff5b13d9.jpg
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