Audi RS6 Avant and RS6 Performance review - performance and 0-60 time

Audi’s most powerful, fastest estate car may lack ultimate involvement and dynamics, but it’s still one of the best in its class.

Evo rating
Price
from £79,545
  • Pace, space and impeccable build
  • Not the most involving of drives

Performance and 0-62mph time

With the C7 RS6 Avant Audi took the opportunity to embark on an engine downsizing programme for its rocket-sled load lugger, not that the resulting power plant was any less ferocious in terms of power and performance.

The 3999cc, twin-turbocharged V8 produces 552bhp between 5700 and 6600rpm, and 516lb ft from as low as 1750rpm through to 5600rpm. The dropping of two cylinders may have resulted in 20bhp fewer compared to the outgoing V10 model, but the addition of a pair of turbo chargers increased torque by 72lb ft over the old naturally aspirated V10.

With quattro traction and an eight-speed auto the RS6 has no issue getting off the line, with the 0-62mph time a claimed 3.9-secs, the kind of time you’d associate with a supercar not so long ago, not an estate car. 

It’s not as a characterful as the V10 it replaced, but the performance of the RS6’s turbo charged V8 suits the nature of the car far better.

For 2016 Audi introduced the RS6 Performance. It has the same twin-turbocharged V8 but with an additional 45bhp and 37lb ft resulting in 597bhp between 6100-6800rpm and 553lb ft from 2500rpm through to 5500rpm. 

As result of the power and torque increases the claimed 0-62mph time drops 0.2-sec to 3.7-sec with top speed limited to 155mph, unless you specify the optional carbon-ceramic brakes when Audi will up the limiter to 189mph. 

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