2009 Audi RS6 - Click above for high-res gallery

The next generation Audi A6 is expected to debut early in 2010 and that means a new performance S6 and super-performance RS6 will likely follow a couple of years later. As improved efficiency and reduced CO2 emissions take hold in the early years of the next decade, that almost certainly means the S6/RS6 will follow the trend of this year's new S4 and down-size its powerplant.

The larger RS6 is currently propelled by a twin turbocharged 5.2-liter V10. The V10 which is shared with the Lamborghini Gallardo (in normally aspirated form) will likely give way to a smaller, boosted V8 that should be lighter and more compact. In all likelihood, the smaller engine won't result in a reduction in performance and will probably be in the 4.0-4.5-liter range with either supercharger, turbos or perhaps both. Recent rumors have indicated that the next M5 will follow the same path taking on the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 from the X6 M.

Gallery: 2009 Audi RS6

Next-gen Audi RS6 to drop V10 in favor of V8? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gallery: 2009 Audi RS6

Moscow 2008: Audi RS6 sedan in the sheetmetal originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Aug 2008 06:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

You have to sit back and applaud a car like the Audi RS6 Avant. As we've noted with amazement countless times, it's a station wagon capable of outgunning supercars. In Europe that sort of thing flies, and while it still won't be making the transatlantic voyage (even though we're sure that, with a set of wings attached, it could get here on its own), even back in the old world not everyone is keen on the estate body-style. Which is why Audi is preparing a conventional four-door sedan version of the RS6, which our photographers spied all but completely undisguised out on the street a little over a month ago. Reports now indicate that the twin-turbo V10 super-sedan will be unveiled at the upcoming Paris Motor Show this coming October. We can expect the sedan version to carry the same mechanicals as its wagon counterpart, however certain visual updates are expected to be shown on the top-of-the-line RS6 sedan before they trickle down to the entire A6 range.

Gallery: Audi RS6 - spy shots

Paris 2008 Preview: Audi to unveil RS6 sedan originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Aug 2008 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Few companies do wagons like Audi does. Take, for example, the RS6 Avant - the supercar-crushing super-estate with the 580+hp twin-turbo V10. The combination of "wagon" and "exotic" in the same sentence make for a real attention-grabber, as far as family-haulers go, but push comes to shove, we're not sure we share our European counterparts' love for estate wagons. That's why Audi has been preparing a sedan version of the RS6. The undisguised spy shots of the sedan we caught back in February suggested the car was just about ready, but another set of spy shots now surfacing - a month and a half later - show that Audi may have gone back to the drawing board.

The new candids show a beefed-up A6 - complete with aggressive front end, bulging fenders, side skirts and jumbo wheels, suggesting the RS6 despite the lack of badging - but with a little surprise around back: a rear end styled like that of the newer, smaller A4 sedan and A5 coupe. The shots suggest that Audi is preparing a little butt-lift for the entire A6 range to fall in line with its new posterior styling direction, but is using the RS6 to showcase it first. Like we said with the last round of spy shots, this makes perfect sense when you consider that most drivers won't be seeing much else of the RS6 as it thunders down the left-hand lane.

[Source: World Car Fans]

Spy Shots: Audi RS6 sedan to debut A4/5-style rear end? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Apr 2008 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.