AUDI RS6 AVANT by Nik Ellis
Photography by Melvyn Hamid
This is a Swiss Army Knife of a car . Feel the need for speed ? Big , fast engine , tick . Driving around Europe and require something comfy , tick . Taking the kids camping and need loads of room , tick . Owned and loved by many a famous supercar collector such as Pink Floyd ’ s Nick Mason and Jamiroquai ’ s Jay Kay , it ’ s no surprise that it ’ s a bit special .
The Car : The new RS6 is now fitted with Audi ’ s V8 4.0 litre bi-turbo engine mated to an eight speed gearbox . It clears 60 mph in a very respectable 3.6 seconds , making it a decent rival for the likes of Mercedes E63S , Porsche Panemera Turbo and the upcoming BMW M5 Touring .
Whilst it ’ s fast , at over two tonnes in weight and four wheel drive , it is incredibly well behaved on the road , an intuitive drive , predominantly thanks to over 30 clever electronic stability controls . You need to keep an eye on the speedo as it ’ s very easy to go quick in this hot Audi . The refinement of this new model almost dampens the sensation of how rapid you ’ re actually going .
It now has two RS modes , similar to BMW ’ s M cars , which alter the engine settings , adaptive air suspension , exhausts and turns down intervention from the various traction aids . Basically they make it go faster . The car is great fun in these modes without being too much of a handful . It ’ s obedient enough not to terrify you or end up in a hedge backwards .
I developed the feeling that this car isn ’ t aimed at razzing around in full RS mode , more a handy GT car or mile-munching cruiser . It ’ s perhaps more refined than it ’ s ancestors ; with not quite as much hooligan exhaust noise as previous models , especially the V10 one . Carbon ceramic brakes are an £ 8k option but I ’ m not sure who would need these , it ’ s not really a track attack car and they ’ re not exactly great when they ’ re cold
The Drive To my mind , this is where the RS6 comes into its own . I could happily do hundreds of miles in this car on a daily basis . Aside from the way it drives , the cabin is a great habitat , with controls ergonomically positioned & comfy yet supportive seats . Now fitted with Audi ’ s latest operating system including two touch screens with a well thought out and intelligible user experience , a familiar sight now across the Audi family . Controlling pretty much everything it ’ s easier to use & clearer than Merc & BMWs systems , and less fiddly than the Porsche ’ s . The infotainment and important information is also complimented by a heads up display , it ’ s incredibly helpful for the driver .
With permanent four wheel drive , four wheel steer and a plethora of driving aids , this car sticks to the road well . Even when pushed over the edge , it starts gently understeering very predictably . Being a 2 tonne , 4 litre car , it ’ s not what you ’ d call frugal , although it does have cylinder deactivation and some mild electrical support so can scrape 30mpg if you ’ re gentle on the accelerator .
The 8cm wider body than the standard A6 gives this car a mean muscular stance , still looking stealthy and classy on the motorway . The RS parts are relatively understated ; this is not a ‘ 911 GT3 spoilers & fins ’ type modification .
The new RS6 is leaps & bounds ahead of the previous model , much more capable on the road , especially the handling , predominantly thanks to the electronic aids , diffs & four wheel drive system . I love the technology it ’ s fitted with ; genuinely useful things you never knew you needed & will forever desire .
It would have to be in the all time top ten vehicles you ’ d want to drive on an epic road trip , knowing that it would get you there not only safely , but you ’ d have a serious shed load of fun along the way .
Price : ( from ) £ 92,550
For more information or to book a test drive , contact Melvyn Hamid on 0151 357 8066
Cheshire Oaks Audi Longlooms Rd , Ellesmere Port CH65 9LF
80 78 wirrallife . com