The Goodwood Test: Audi RS6 Performance – Uniquely Capable

Heritage

The idea of the fast, practical Audi dates all the way back to the original Quattro of 1980, which just like this new RS6 ‘Performance’ utilised both turbocharging and four-wheel drive to first generate and then safely deploy its power. However, while the Quattro’s 2.1-litre, five-cylinder engine produced what was an immensely impressive 200bhp 36 years ago, the RS6 now generates over three times the power on less than twice the capacity. Such is the rate of progress these days. But we’d have to wait another 14 years to see Audi’s first ultra-high performance estate and the very first Audi to wear the ‘RS’ badging of its high performance Quattro GMbH win. That car was the A4-based RS2 estate and, despite using essentially the same engine as the old Quattro, it now produced a rousing 315bhp. It was a great looking an exceptionally quick car, at least in a straight line.

A6 estates first started going faster in 1994 with the 227bhp S6, but it would be 2002 before the first properly rapid RS6 version was developed. Like today’s car it had a twin turbo V8 under the bonnet but with a slightly bigger 4.2-litre capacity, and a 450bhp output. Even today an original RS6 is a startlingly rapid car. 

Design

Today’s RS6 fully deserves its ‘Performance’ soubriquet. True it features the same twin turbo, 4-litre V8 engine used in the standard RS6 of the current generation but with its mapping rewritten to provide even more boost from its turbochargers, its power has risen from 560PS to 605PS or 597bhp in old money. Not only does this make it the most powerful Audi family car in history, it’s got more power even than any of the Bentleys that also use this engine, including the GT3-R.

In additional to the extra urge, the RS6 comes complete with its own bodykit, massive 21in rims and a sports exhaust, a better than reasonable tally of refinements for the £7000 additional cost over a standard RS6. Otherwise it is as you would expect: a robustly constructed, spacious and well appointed five seat estate car that just happens to have more power than currently found in the entry level offerings from Ferrari, Lamborghini or McLaren.

Performance

It’s all about the context. These days there are more than a few super sports cars that will accelerate from rest to 62mph in 3.7sec. What they won’t do is also carry a large family and all its luggage on a fortnight’s holiday around Europe.

Because it has the traction to deploy all its power and torque almost all the time on wet or dry surfaces, the effect feels akin to being physically thrown up the road. Straights dissolve into short burst acceleration zones and braking areas and because it does it all with such exquisite nonchalance you really do need to stay very aware of exactly how fast you’re travelling. Often you’ll conclude you’re going quite quickly, only to look down and realise the extent of your understatement.

Passion

You need to manage your expectations, because if you expect a car with a long wheelbase, four-wheel-drive and an all but two tonne mass to handle like a sports car, disappointment will be the only result. But for a car of its kind, and unlike many a previous fast Audi estate, the RS6 is not only able, it is more than capable of putting a smile on your face. Its ride is good on standard air suspension, its directional accuracy quite exceptional given the raw material and how much there is of it. Grip levels are enormous and because the car is actually barely any wider than a 2-litre A6 estate, you don’t need wide open spaces before you can put it to good use.

The RS6 Performance is as good a stab at being all things automotive to most wealthy people as we’ve seen of late: an ultra-high performance family hold all complete with the added practicality and towing ability of four wheel drive. In the right discreet colour, it would be a very cool thing in which to appear in paddocks around Europe, race car on the trailer behind. And as the only 600 horsepower estate on the market, at least until the Mercedes-AMG E63 estate appears next year, right now there is nothing else quite like it out there.

Price tag of our car £86,420 (RS6 Performance)