The long-lasting Audi RS6 tremendous wagon is popping 20 this yr.
With 4 generations spanning throughout these 20 years, the RS6 has change into a cult hero for providing supercar efficiency in a family-friendly bundle, and is an icon for wagon lovers worldwide.
Right here, we’ll have a good time the RS6 nameplate’s twentieth anniversary by stepping again in time and remembering every era of this lauded badge.
2002-2004: C5 era
After profitable the world over with the RS2 Avant and first-generation RS4 Avant within the Nineties, quattro GmbH (now Audi Sport) got down to engineer the subsequent chapter in its efficiency passenger automobile story.
The primary-gen Audi RS6 noticed the common A6 sedan and Avant undergo a sequence of enhancements, together with adaptation of the engine, suspension and transmission to make the standard German mid-sizer a correct efficiency automobile.
New aspect skirts, wider sills, 18- or 19-inch alloy wheels, in addition to two giant oval tailpipes “emphasised its sporty ambitions”, in line with Audi.
As for the powertrain, Audi began with the 4.2-litre V8 used within the S6 – which initially was borrowed from the A8 limousine – and strapped two turbochargers to it.
Initially, the brand new engine didn’t match within the A6’s engine bay, so quattro GmbH prolonged the entrance finish of the bottom automobile to present 4cm extra set up area.
Developed in partnership with UK-based Cosworth, a subsidiary of Audi AG on the time and up till 2004, the bi-turbocharged 4.2-litre V8 put out 450PS (331kW) and 560Nm which made the primary RS6 essentially the most highly effective Audi mannequin on the time.
The C5-generation Audi RS6 featured a five-speed torque-converter automated with 5 driving modes, and quoted a formidable 0-100 time of simply 4.7 seconds, with a high pace restricted to 250km/h (155mph). As you’d anticipate, the RS6 got here as customary with Audi’s Quattro all-wheel drive system.
As a way to assist the RS6 strike the proper steadiness between consolation and sportiness, even in day by day driving situations, Audi utilised its newly-developed Dynamic Trip Management (DCC) suspension expertise which “reduces roll and pitch actions in sporty driving, each on straightaways and in curves”, in line with Stephan Reil, former RS6 growth lead and now head of technical growth at Audi’s Neckarsulm facility.
DRC consists of metal springs with two diagonally-opposite hydraulic shock absorbers which counteract movement within the automobile’s physique with none “time lag” and with out electronics.
All C5-generation RS6 items have been made on the manufacturing line and by hand. Partial meeting could be accomplished on the manufacturing line after which the suspension, RS-specific elements and inside decor components could be put in in a corridor adjoining to the Neckarsulm manufacturing facility, the place quattro GmbH staff would spend round 15 hours finalising every unit on a hydraulic elevate.
The primary iteration of Audi RS6 was additionally the one era to have a racing automobile model, within the type of the RS6 Competitors. A 475PS (349kW) model of the 4.2 V8 efficiently beat out the competitors “with equal displacement” on the 2003 Velocity GT World Problem.
Within the latter levels of its life, the RS6 ‘plus’ provided a beefier 480PS (353kW) model of the bi-turbo V8, with torque remaining at 560Nm.
Audi upgraded the RS6 plus with extra customary tools that was beforehand optionally available, and the highest pace may very well be raised from 250km/h to a supercar-rivalling 280km/h.
2008-2010: C6 era
Six years after the primary era was launched, Audi had one other crack on the RS6 system and as soon as once more provided sedan and Avant wagon variations.
For this iteration, Audi shoehorned the 5.0-litre V10 utilized in its R8 supercar in addition to the Lamborghini Huracan, and if that wasn’t sufficient, strapped on two turbochargers.
That gave the second-gen RS6 a large 580PS (426kW) and 650Nm, which exceeded even essentially the most highly effective R8 GT (560PS, 412kW).
For the C6-generation Audi used a six-speed automated which was “considerably reworked” to deal with the immense energy on faucet, together with developments to the cooling, shift pace and energy distribution.
The RS6 sedan might sprint from 0-100 in 4.5 seconds, with the Avant marginally slower at 4.6 seconds. At launch the RS6 got here as customary with a restricted high pace of 250km/h, which may very well be upped to 280km/h as an possibility. Later, the RS6 plus achieved over 300km/h.
Audi’s V10 engine weighed 278kg and featured a motorsport-inspired dry sump lubrication technique permitting the large engine to take a seat low in physique physique and decrease the centre of gravity, and will provide as much as 1.2g of oil “for longitudinal and lateral acceleration”.
The C6 era provided 420mm entrance and 356mm rear carbon-ceramic brakes as an possibility, and the DRC suspension system was featured as customary, with adjustable shock absorbers provided as an possibility.
Like the unique, the 2008 Audi RS6 featured a “subdued” design although was set other than common A6 fashions with its widened fenders in addition to as much as 20-inch alloy wheels with 275/35 tyres. The autos have been partially assembled on the manufacturing line after which finalised on the adjoining corridor by quattro GmbH staff, once more like its predecessor.
Audi despatched off the C6 era with the RS6 plus Sport or RS6 plus Audi Unique, relying on market. Simply 500 items rolled out of Neckarsulm with a numbered inside plaque, particular alloy wheels, a leather-based instrument panel and ground mats with the RS6 brand.
2013-2018: C7 era
As a follow-up to the stonking 5.0-litre V10, the C7 Audi RS6 went from the mannequin line’s largest engine ever to the smallest, decreasing capability to 4.0 litres, eight cylinders, however once more with two turbochargers.
Not solely was capability dropped, however the RS6 Sedan was no extra with the C7 iteration, with the Avant wagon soldiering on as the one out there variant. Nevertheless, Audi created the coupe-styled RS7 Sportback as a non secular successor.
Energy with the brand new engine decreased by 20PS to 560PS (412kW), however torque rose to 700Nm. The C7-gen RS6 additionally employed plenty of weight-saving measures that made it as much as 120kg lighter than its predecessor, and the entrance:rear weight distribution was improved to 55:45.
This was achieved by means of a better proportion of aluminium within the building, together with all hooked up RS elements, and the lighter bi-turbo V8 engine sitting 15 centimetres additional again within the engine bay.
A brand new eight-speed tiptronic automated despatched grunt to a quattro all-wheel drive system, with 0-100 taking a claimed 3.9 seconds – half a second faster than its predecessor. The third-generation RS6 might hit an eye-watering 305km/h, too.
The lighter physique in addition to new cylinder deactivation expertise meant the C7-generation RS6 was as much as 30 per cent extra gas environment friendly than its predecessor, the latter function permitting as much as half its cylinders to be shut off below low engine load, successfully making it a four-cylinder.
For the primary time, adaptive air suspension was provided as customary tools. The RS-specific system rode 20mm decrease than different fashions and featured “sportier tuning”, with a towing hitch additionally made out there for the primary time within the nameplate’s historical past.
As soon as once more, carbon-ceramic brakes (420mm entrance and 365mm rear) have been out there as an possibility, and like every iteration earlier than it will swap halls throughout meeting in Neckarsulm.
Audi says the C7 grew to become a best-seller and market chief within the efficiency wagon section, and resonated around the globe.
2019-current: C8 era
And now we arrive to the present era.
The C8-gen Audi RS6 Avant launched globally in 2019, and constructed upon the foundations laid by all its predecessors.
As soon as once more the RS6 contains a 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8 below the bonnet, now pumping out a large 600PS (441kW) and 800Nm and bolstered for the primary time by 48V mild-hybrid expertise.
The added grunt bolsters the slight weight achieve over its forebear, with the automobile needing simply 3.6 seconds to speed up from 0 to 100km/h, and 12 seconds to succeed in 200km/h.
Along with the swish, fuel-saving 48V MHEV setup, the C8-generation RS6 Avant debuted plenty of new applied sciences.
All-wheel steering grew to become out there for the primary time, not solely enhancing stability at larger speeds by turning the rear wheels in the identical course because the fronts, but in addition makes parking and low-speed manoeuvres simpler by turning the rear wheels in the wrong way to the fronts, decreasing the turning circle.
There’s additionally the supply of Matrix LED headlights with laser lights shared with the RS7 Sportback.
The earlier era’s transfer to supply a tow bar as an possibility has resonated with clients as properly, with Stephan Reil saying “greater than half of our European clients order a trailer hitch”.
Not like its predecessors, which all featured extra subdued styling in comparison with non-RS counterparts, the C8-generation RS6 Avant actually distinguishes itself from the common A6 household.
Audi says solely the roof, entrance doorways and tailgate are the one exterior components shared with the common A6 Avant, with the opposite elements altered particularly for the RS and in consequence the automobile has been widened by a big 8cm. The present automobile contains a model-specific bonnet for the primary time, too.
Relying on market, customary 21-inch wheels with 275/35 tyres are customary, with 22-inch items shod in 285/30 rubber optionally available. In one other change to the bloodline, the C8 RS6 is now not manufactured in two levels in separate halls, somewhat rolled off the meeting line in Neckarsulm in showroom-ready type.
The present iteration of RS6 Avant additionally marked a return for the nameplate within the US for the primary time for the reason that unique.
In Australia, the present Audi RS6 is arguably essentially the most inexpensive ever – extremely.
Priced from $226,891 plus on-road prices (it initially launched at $216,000), the 2022 Audi RS6 Avant is considerably extra inexpensive than the previous-generation RS6 Efficiency ($248,355 for MY18), and isn’t far off the determine requested by the unique RS6 Avant that went on sale in 2003 ($225,100) – conserving inflation in thoughts, it ain’t unhealthy.
It’s additionally solely one in all two Avant variations of the present A6 on sale in Australia, the opposite being the jacked-up A6 allroad.
Alles Gute zum Geburtstag, Legende!
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MORE: All the things Audi RS6
