The New Audi RS6 Avant Is A Station Wagon You Actually Want To Drive
When it comes to high-performance station wagons, American enthusiasts have been starved for choice with only the Mercedes-Benz E63S wagon and Porsche Panamera on the market. Audi has finally answered our prayers and has announced that their supercar rivaling family hauler, the 2020 RS6 Avant, is finally coming state-side.
An Intimidating Presence
As soon as you lay your eyes on the new Avant, you know it means business, with Audi incorporating very aggressive styled LED matrix headlights, a full blacked-out grille, and massive bumper vents. The widened fenders are connected by extended side sills to fit the massive 21-inch wheels, which can be upgraded to a 22-inch option. On the rear, the Avant features a redesigned rear diffuser, with its huge dual exhausts telling the whole world what hides under the hood. The Audi supercar is finished off with tinted LED taillights.
Horsepower And A Hybrid
The 2020 Audi RS6 shares its engine with the upcoming RS7, which is a familiar 4.0 V8 twin-turbocharged TFSI which now produces a staggering 591hp and 590lb-ft of torque. This engine is mated to a 48-volt mid-hybrid system that is already present in the A8 and Q8. This system merges the traditional 12V system with a 48V system that is connected by a DC-DC inverter. The 12-volt battery runs the standard light load electronics like the radio, interior lights, and central locking, while the 48-volt lithium-ion system gives the car its hybrid features, smooth over the stop-start reignition and helps the engine start quicker.
Power is sent to all four wheels via Audi’s signature Quattro system, which features a rear bias design, and an automatic 8-speed transmission. This propels the RS6 from 0-62mph in a blistering 3.6 seconds, with Audi claiming a top speed of 189mph when equipped with the optional Dynamic package. The RS6 rides on a fully adjustable air suspension, with the option to swap it out for a much more aggressive coil-over spring suspension with adaptive dampers, and optional full carbon-ceramic brakes.
Inside The Cabin
Much of the hype around the RS6 Avant has been about its performance figures, but don’t let that distract from the fact that the Avant still remains a luxury tourer. As soon as you jump into the driver’s seat, there is an immediate sense of the quality of the interior. Every inch of the cabin is covered in luxurious materials, from the leather-clad dashboard to faux suede door inserts.
Gone is the traditional style analog speedometer, which is now replaced by a 12.3-inch digital display that runs Audi’s virtual cockpit, that can be customized to display all relevant information, or you can opt to have certain information displayed on the heads up display. Other luxury features include several driver-assistance technologies such as adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and automatic high-beams. The front seats are power controlled and feature both heating and cooling.
Behind the rear seats, the Avant features 20 cubic feet of cargo space, which can grow to 59 cubic inches when the rear is folded away. Loading is made easy by the standard powered tailgate, with Audi offering the option of motion-controlled open-close sensors.
There has been no official announcement from Audi on pricing, but with European pricing available already, we expect prices to start at $112,000.
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