Autoblog

Audi testing new RS6 Avant at the Nürburgring... so what's under the hood?

Noah Joseph — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 14:59:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Performance, Wagon, Europe, Audi

When a company like Audi debuts a new model line, enthusiasts know it brings with it the promise of a high-performance muscle-beast to follow. And so is the case with the A6 leading to the RS6.

The first RS6 packed a twin-turbo V8 good for 444 horsepower, and the second-generation model had a 571-horse V10. As is the general trend with German muscle, the new model pictured in these spy shots - snapped at the Nürburgring with telltale RS4-style intakes and widened fender flares - will likely downsize back to a twin-turbo eight. The smart money's on Quattro GmbH taking the 4.0 TFSI from the S8 and the Bentley Continental GT, but tweaking it to its own specifications. Output is likely to hover around that of its predecessor, trading two cylinders for as many turbo spools.

As with past models, the new RS6 is likely to come first in Avant wagon form before the sedan comes along soon thereafter. Whether any RS6 models makes it Stateside, however, remains to be seen, but we can certainly hope.

Audi testing new RS6 Avant at the Nürburgring... so what's under the hood? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Apr 2012 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Legalize It: Horchaus federalizing non-U.S. Audis for North America

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 19:24:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Performance, Europe, Audi, Canada

All your dreams do come true - Click above for high-res image gallery

We're going back and forth on this one. Do we file it under "We'll believe it when we see it" or "Pinch me I'm dreaming"? Either way, we get to sub-tag it, "Thank God for rich friends." That's right y'all, Audi is allowing Horchaus, the Canadian distributor MTM, to federalize some special four-ringers for American consumption. These are the real deal, hopped-up German Audis, straight from the tweaker factory.

As we're sure you all know, Audi keeps a whole bunch of extra spicy models back in Europe. Why? The excuses typically involve some song and dance about Americans not wanting high performance station wagons (as if), though in the case of the RS4 Avant (arguably the most desirable car we can't buy), the U.S. prohibition was because the rear-mounted battery didn't pass DOT certification...

So which cars can we now get via Horchaus? The RS4 Avant, RS4 Convertible, S3, the RS6 sedan and RS6 Avant, Q7 V12 TDI and TT RS. And there's something else to note: Since Euro-tuner MTM is involved in the equation, these cars can be pumped up a bit over stock. One example would be the twin-turbo V10 in the RS6 upped from a paltry 580 horsepower to a more appropriate 735 hp.

That said, Horchaus's pricing announcement is leading us back to the "We'll believe it when we see it" category. Using nothing but a straight Euros-to-dollars conversion rate, the RS6 would cost you about $150,000. However, Horchaus is saying it can be yours for just $107,600. Here's where it gets hinky. Supposedly Horchaus can sell you a R8 V10 5.2 FSI for $98,000, which is mucho less expensive than Audi USA sells them for (the last one we drove cost $172,250). We don't believe this last bit. Still, will us Americanos be able to get two of the hottest wagons in the world? Si senor, si.

UPDATE: After collaborating with a few colleagues who've spoken with people at both Audi Canada and Audi of America, along with Audi AG, we're a little unsure how a few of the vehicles listed could make it to the States and be legalized. The RS4 and S4 Avants shouldn't be a problem, as both have had their engines federalized and the S4 Avant has been crash-tested for the U.S. requirements. The RS6 Avant and its V10 engine have not, so importation of that beast is hardly cut and dry. We'll continue poking around and update this post as necessary.

Gallery: Audi RS6

[Source: IEDEI ]

Legalize It: Horchaus federalizing non-U.S. Audis for North America originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi RS6 Avant driver reportedly caught going 133 MPH with nearly 2,000 pounds of pot

Jonny Lieberman — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:56:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Wagon, Etc., Europe, Audi, Luxury

Audi RS6 Avant - Click above to for high-res image gallery

If you read publications about cars long enough, you'll no doubt catch on to our pro-wagon bias. In fact, if us auto-journo types ran things, SUVs, CUVs and sedans would be banned, and all passenger cars would either be mid-engined, 500 horsepower coupes or 600 hp wagons. With manuals and roll up windows. No, really. This is the type of thinking required to join our vaunted profession. However, one of the many reasons we want mega-burly wagons isn't to haul one ton of dope around.

Seems that a twin-turbo, Lambo-V10 engined Audi RS6 Avant (good for at least 580 hp) was busted outside of Seville, Spain for not only going 133 mph, but for carrying 2,000 pounds of pot. Twenty-seven bundles of hashish to be specific. Value? €120,000, or about $180,000 USD. That's a lot of grass, man. And probably about one thousand pounds more than a RS6 sedan could have carried. Er... umm... we mean.... "Bad RS6 Avant, bad!"

Gallery: 2008 Audi RS6 Avant

[Source: Motor Pasion]

Audi RS6 Avant driver reportedly caught going 133 MPH with nearly 2,000 pounds of pot originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MTM Audi RS6 Avant goes 214 mph, proves wagons uber alles!

Jonny Lieberman — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Performance, Wagon, Europe, Audi

As a profession, there's a very long list of cars on sale in Europe that we can't buy which us auto journo types nevertheless constantly rattle our (virtual) pens over. From the Volkswagen Scirocco to the Honda Civic Type R to the 300+ hp Ford Focus to the Citroen C6, total and complete absence makes the heart grow fonder -- as well as providing an easy, brainless way for us to end all stories about said forbidden fruit. I mean imagine reading this line, "The BMW M5 Wagon sports a 507 hp 5.0-liter V10 and can run up over 200 mph with the limiter removed. Leave it in Germany!"

That said, there are a few cars that we really do want. As in, when we get together after hours on a press launch with some free booze and really start talking cars, these are the vehicles we pine for. For instance, as nifty as the Ford Focus RS is, we get to drive around in the MazdaSpeed3 often enough -- we'll live. But the aforementioned M5 Wagon? Gotta have it. Or the RS4 Avant? Mommy please. ~~Or the Citroen C6?~~ Or, perhaps best of all, the twin-turbo V10 Audi RS6 Avant? Oh man -- could you imagine? So yes, it's true -- all automotive journalists secretly (and not so secretly) spend their lives lusting after mega-horsepower wagons. Now you know how unreasonable and silly we all are.

Oh, yeah -- almost forgot. MTM just took their tuned 702 hp RS6 Avant to the annual Nardo High Speed event, and it blew the doors off all the other cars, two-door sports cars included. How fast? 344.2 km/h. Translated into something us 'Mericans can understand: 214 miles per hour. Can we get a dang? DANG! Full results appear next month in Auto Motor und Sport -- we'll keep you posted.

[Source: MTM]

MTM Audi RS6 Avant goes 214 mph, proves wagons uber alles! originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HP War, Battle of the Tuners: B&B gets 715hp from Audi RS6

Noah Joseph — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:31:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Sedan, Wagon, Audi

Click above to view a hi-res gallery of the B&B Audi RS6

A 580hp station wagon (or sedan, for that matter) seems like sheer lunacy in its own right, but it appears that the twin-turbo V10 in the Audi RS6 is capable of a great deal more. Following the release of the 702hp MTM-tuned RS6 M, fellow German tuning house B&B Automobiltechnik has an even more potent tuning package, boosting power up to a whopping 715.

So what did the power-hungry gearheads at B&B do to get a 120 horsepower boost out of the Gallardo-derived FSI? They didn't replace the turbos or fit a new supercharger, nor did they bore out the cylinder block for bigger displacement. They simply fitted a new intake, catalyst, exhaust and cooling system, and tinkered with the ECU. B&B are also offering an adjustable suspension and new springs that drop the ride height by 25mm. The result? A claimed 0-60 run in a scant 3.6 seconds. That's well into supercar territory, as many a Porsche and Ferrari driver are bound to discover when baited into an impromptu red-light drag race. Nice work if you can get it.

Gallery: B&B Audi RS6

[Source: B&B via World Car Fans]

HP War, Battle of the Tuners: B&B gets 715hp from Audi RS6 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pics Aplenty: 2008 Audi RS6 Avant

John Neff — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 14:56:00 EST

Filed under: Wagon, Europe, Audi

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]

Gallery: 2008 Audi RS6 Avant

Pics Aplenty: 2008 Audi RS6 Avant originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Jan 2008 14:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Frankfurt 2007: Audi RS6 Avant is the devil's own wagon

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 11:20:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Wagon, 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.

Gallery: 2008 Audi RS6 Avant

Continue reading Frankfurt 2007: Audi RS6 Avant is the devil's own wagon

Frankfurt 2007: Audi RS6 Avant is the devil's own wagon originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Sep 2007 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Enter the Rumormill: Audi R8 getting twin-turbo V10 from RS6

Chris Shunk — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 12:01:00 EST

Filed under: Supercars, Audi

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]

Enter the Rumormill: Audi R8 getting twin-turbo V10 from RS6 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Sep 2007 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi RS6 unfit for US consumption

Alex Nunez — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 09:05:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Wagon, Europe, Audi

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]

Audi RS6 unfit for US consumption originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Sep 2007 09:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Officially Official: Audi RS6 Avant

Alex Nunez — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Performance, Wagon, Europe, Audi

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]

Gallery: 2008 Audi RS6 Avant

Continue reading Officially Official: Audi RS6 Avant

Officially Official: Audi RS6 Avant originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Sep 2007 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: Audi RS6 - HALF OFF!

Frank Filipponio — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 16:26:00 EST

Filed under: Wagon, Auctions, 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]

eBay Find of the Day: Audi RS6 - HALF OFF! originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Mar 2007 16:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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