Autoblog

click above for more gorgeous high-res pics of the Audi RS6 Avant

Though the 2008 Audi RS6 Avant was officially unveiled last September and displayed for the first time in Frankfurt shortly thereafter, the automaker from Ingolstadt doesn't want us to forget about its fire-breathing wagon. Audi has released a batch of new high-res RS6 Avant images that are perfect for this generation's version of that iconic Countach poster on the wall: the desktop wallpaper. And in case you forgot what the RS6 Avant is all about, here is its resume in easily digestible chunks.

• 580-horsepower/480 lb-ft twin-turbo V10 TFSI
• 0-62 mph in 4.6 seconds, 0-124 mph in 14.9 seconds
• Top speed of 155 mph (electronically governed)
• quattro permanent four-wheel-drive
• Unique bodywork, interior trim
• Up to 58.6 cubic ft of cargo space
• Optional ceramic composite brakes
• 6-speed tiptronic

Those who grew up dreaming about one day owning that Countach on the wall can now embarrass Lamborghini's legendary exotic in a German station wagon. If that's not the best cure for a mid-life crisis, we don't know what is. Check out all the new pics, plus the original official photos and our live shots of the Audi RS6 AVant from the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show in the gallery below.

[Source: Audi]

click above image to view high-res gallery of the Audi RS6

When Satan is going to have some friends over and needs to go shopping, he grabs the keys to the Audi RS6 Avant. Why? Because it's a station wagon -- and it will only come as a wagon to begin with -- that costs more than 101,000 euros, which is nothing short of hellish. It also has 580 HP, though some claim that's a bit of false modesty and the car actually has 600 HP. Then there are the ceramic brakes riding massive rotors, the perfect cure for The Nefarious One's hot foot. Inside, curvaceous buckets taper upward to curved horns for headrests. And finally, while it has a face and a mien that many people could love, it takes a demon -- speed or otherwise -- to truly appreciate.

Inside is stitched leather and carbon fiber and alcantara for days. The car only comes as a tiptronic, but it's been recalibrated for very short shift times. There is absolutely no reason for a supersonic station wagon, especially one that doesn't come with helmets and re-entry suits, but who cares? It's hot enough for Hades, and the guy who runs it.

Click Read for the Audi press release, and be sure to check out the gallery of hi-res photos.

We see a lot of rumors here at Autoblog, but this one just has to come true. Word around town is that the same engine that powers the 580-hp 5.2L twin-turbo V10 in the recently announced Audi RS6 Avant could also find its way to the back hatch of the Audi R8. We first reported on the possibility of a twin-turbo V10 back in February, and it seems the stat sheet on the RS6 has merely stoked the flames.

With 580 (or more) ponies in tow, the R8 should beat most anything on the road, including its current competition like the Porsche 911 that offers more powerful models in its lineup. Throw in bigger brakes and wheels with a modified suspension, and even the vaunted GT2 should begin to worry.

[Source: Edmunds Inside Line]

And now, we bring you the sad cap to the whirlwind 24-hour saga that has been the official announcement of Audi's sublimely monstrous RS6 ahead of its physical debut in Frankfurt. The Car Connection reports that like so many appealing cars offered to happy drivers in markets outside the US, the Audi RS6 is staying home. Apparently, a US version was never considered. As such, we're left to look longingly at photos and a very inviting spec sheet.

Late-night emergency diaper runs will have to be made with something less potent, and the satisfaction of dusting off that guy next to you in a Porsche 911 will be left to others for whom English is probably a second language. We don't get to hear what the V10's already-intoxicating noise sounds like with the addition of a couple of turbos. No, the car that would supplant its S8 cousin as perhaps the ultimate sleeper will remain an ocean away. More ghost ship than Q-ship, RS6 will be the stuff of legend that few of us ever get to experience firsthand. What a shame.

[Source: The Car Connection]

Click image for high-res gallery

Mere hours after the first round of Audi RS6 Avant info and photos landed on the web, Audi released all the official deets. We covered the essentials for you last night, but if you follow the jump, you can now read the press release in full. There are a few new shots added to the photo gallery as well, so click and enjoy. In case you missed it the first time around, here's the RS6 Avant in brief:

• 580-horsepower/480 lb-ft V10 TFSI
• 0-62 mph in 4.6 seconds, 0-124 mph in 14.9 seconds
• Top speed of 155 mph (electronically governed)
• 17 mpg combined-cycle
• quattro permanent four-wheel-drive
• Unique bodywork, interior trim
• Up to 58.6 cubic ft of cargo space
• Optional ceramic composite brakes
• 6-speed tiptronic
• Exclusive new colors
• Available in Europe April 2008

And here we thought the regular V10 FSI, as seen in the S6 and S8, was awesome. Silly us.

[Source: Audi]

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]