Autoblog

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]

From the some-automakers-have-more-money-than-sense department comes a new commercial for the Audi RS6. The minute-long teaser spot features some kind of synchronized gymnastics routine that we guess is supposed to signify a bunch of people working together like a finely tuned machine. We think there are some gymnasts imitating the pistons in the blisteringly fast RS6 V10, and there was a human crankshaft and some headlights too, but it's hard to tell with it being people in tights and all. The last three seconds is the first indication that this is a car commercial, as the front end of the sledge hammer RS6 is finally shown.

We know it's a teaser ad, but next time we'd like to see a little more sheet metal and a lot less flesh. Besides, didn't Ford just do the people as cars thing a couple months ago? Hit the jump to view the minute-long commercial, then let us know what you think in the comments.

[Source: YouTube]

If you were disappointed by the news that Audi would not put the R8 V12 TDI Le Mans into production, we've got some exciting news to lift your spirits. According to emerging reports, Audi has confirmed previous rumors that a V10 will find its way into the R8's midship engine bay in the second quarter of next year. And not just any V10, either: the 580-hp twin-turbo V10 from the RS6 Avant. (And here we thought Audi developed that engine just for a station wagon.)

The news is attributed to an interview in Autocar magazine with Wolfgang Hatz. What, you don't know who Wolfgang Hatz is? Tssk-tssk. (Okay, we didn't either.) He's the head of powertrain development for the entire Volkswagen Group, and he says the engine has already been signed off on. Initial cooling problems that caused previous prototypes to burst into flames have been solved chiefly through the addition of a roof-mounted vent like the one seen on the previous R8 V12 TDI concept. Reports suggest the supercar will get the nameplate RS8, although there's the potential for Audi's halo car to be confused with an RS version of the A8 sedan. While we're forced to take everything with a grain of salt today, this is one lead we hope isn't an April Fool's Day hoax.

[Source: Autocar via German Car Scene]

At one time Japanese regulations prohibited engines in that country producing more than 274hp, and oddly enough a wide array of different engines were all rated at that same level. Given the actual performance of the cars, it was clear that many manufacturers were sandbagging. Audi appears set to do the same with its uber-powerful RS6. The twin-turbo V10 is expected to carry an official rating of 571 hp, but the actual output could be as high as 610hp. Does anyone actually need this much power in a sedan or wagon? Of course not, but sign us up anyway.

[Source: Motor Authority]

There's lots of news on the Audi RS6 lately. It's understandable considering how wicked this new top-of-the-line A6 is expected to be. Spy photos, spy video and even spy rumors. One of the things we've focused on is that this new über-Audi will be powered by a boosted version of Audi's not-Gallardo-derived V10. Frequently we say a turbocharged version of that mill will be powering the RS6, providing somewhere north of 500 hp, possibly even 600. Well, now we are wondering if that blower might actually sit atop the intake rather than somewhere along the exhaust path. It's quite possible this supersedan will be powered by a supercharged V10 instead of a turbo.

This latest batch of spy photos from KGP shows an undisguised prototype with some mismatched color panels, but offers clear views of the upgraded fascias and side sills. The S6 LED light strips on the bumper have been removed, but there are larger air intakes up front now. There's also a serious looking new diffuser and a single exhaust pipe in place of the S6's dual pipes out back. It's a fairly aggressive look, but not as radical as we might have expected for a vehicle with as much power as some expect the RS6 to have. We'll see the final version this fall at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

[Source: Winding Road]

Say it ain't so. One of our favorite cars in recent memory might be going out of production. Autocar UK is saying that Audi has pulled the plug on the sweet RS4 supersedan. According to them, the convertible and wagon versions are still being produced, but they don't know for how long. With the new RS6 and RS5 on the horizon, it's possible Audi has decided to cut RS4 production to gear up for those new models, but the RS4 has been pretty successful for automaker by all accounts and it seems surprising it would be cancelled altogether. Besides being one of the best driving vehicles on the planet, the V8 RS4 is also one of the best sounding vehicles made. Right up there with the Vantage and F430. The RS4 offers performance figures that are nearly the equal of those two sports cars as well, all while providing a back seat and proper trunk. The 414-hp RS4 sedan went on sale in the UK in October of 2005, and showed up in the States around summer 2006. That's a pretty short run for such a great car. With its rumored turbo V10, the RS6 will undoubtedly be awesome as well, but the RS4 will be sorely missed if this news is true.

[Source: Autocar]

We just brought you some spy shots of a psychadelically camo'd RS6 being tested on the famed Nurburgring, but our number one source for Audi info, Fourtitude, scrounged up some additional shots of the upcoming RS6 that contradict the earlier ones. The main difference between the two mules are the fender flares. The Nurburgring mule features flares that mimic the fender extensions used on the original Audi quattros in the '80s. The pictures hosted by Fourtitude feature more traditional flaring that just extend the lip of wheel well, not the entire fender. Personally, we like the more modern flares.

Also of note is Fourtitude's speculation on what will be powering the RS6. We mentioned last time that it could be a twin turbo version of the S6's V10, itself derived from the Lamborghini Gallardo's engine. While talk of a twin turbo FSI V8 has also been heard, Fourtitude says the TT V10 is more likely, with power levels even higher than early guesstimates. Think 600-650 horsepower. Holy Snikees!

Also included in Fourtitude's report are spy shots of the Q7 V12 TDI, a production version of the concept diesel ute sporting a version of the Audi R10 Le Mans racer's oil-burning V12 shown at the Detroit Auto Show this year. The front fascia is a dead ringer for the Detroit concept, and those ceramic rotors look larger than a Hyundai Elantra's entire wheel.

[Source: Fourtitude]

When talk of the ultimate go-anywhere, do-anything vehicle pops up in the AB offices, the Audi RS6 Avant often gets a mention. This is one superfast grocery getter that has sophistication and style to spare. And apparently safety hasn't been overlooked either, as one extremely lucky owner recently discovered. While moving along at a fairly good clip on a familiar stretch of roadway, the driver lost control and made impact with a tree. The vehicle did its job and absorbed the energy so that the driver would be protected. He actually got out and can be seen in the photos talking on his cell phone, perhaps explaining to the missus that he might be late for dinner. While the driver was intact, the car was not.

A nifty story of German engineering at its finest, but that is only the setup. The news here is that the vehicle is now available on eBay Motors, and as you may have guessed, it's half off. Hardy-har. Even split in two, this might be the closest many of us can get to actually owning this superwagon. Actually, the bidding ended when the seller pulled it, but not before scoring a remarkable top bid of EUR 6,716. The seller stated that the engine and brakes were nearly intact, so maybe that wasn't such a stretch after all. Check out the read link for more pics and a more detailed description.

Thanks for the tip, Dan!

[Source: eBay Motors]