“What would you purchase with $AllTheMoney?”
To reply that pleasant thought train I’m positive we’ve all performed, my shortlist of nominees would with out query embody the 2024 Audi RS 6 Avant. I had the nice fortune to drive certainly one of my favourite automobiles on the first-drive launch of its substantive midcycle replace, after which once more extra lately at dwelling in Agoura Hills, California. Each instances, this heroic automobile simply ended up feeling like “my automobile,” as if Audi weaseled its manner into my mind and AI’d what I’d need my automobile to look, drive and performance like.
OK, so perhaps I wouldn’t get the black-out badges and it will positively be inexperienced. Oh, and there are one or two different niggles I’ll get to beneath in my handful of ideas. As a result of not surprisingly, I’ve loads for this masterpiece.
The wheels will not be applicable for this nation
I truly picked up the RS 6 Avant at LAX after a visit to Germany to drive the brand new Panamera E-Hybrid and preview the brand new 911 GTS T-Hybrid. Extra to the purpose, I had final pushed on German roads. They’re paved fairly nicely, you might need heard. There, my check automobile’s $3,750 22-inch wheel possibility would work simply positive. On easy pavement, the adaptive air suspension does wonders to offer a surprisingly comfy journey.
Completely different story in California. That skinny spackle of rubber upon comically massive (and intricately detailed) wheels simply isn’t sufficient to stave off affect harshness over growth joints, imperfectly joined concrete, damaged asphalt and simply bumps basically. It actually hates highway reflectors. The adaptive air suspension nonetheless manages to make it livable, however there’s no manner I’d specify the massive dubs. Keep on with the usual 21s. It’s not like they’re doughnuts.
Observe you can get an non-compulsory “RS sport suspension plus with Dynamic Experience Management” to additional enhance the dealing with, however I sampled it on the primary drive launch, and the journey will get worse. Skip it.
This automobile sounds superb
See these massive fats pipes out the again? Yep, they’re the enterprise. Maybe the very best a part of it, although, is seeing folks flip round to see the place that cool noise is coming from. I assure you they don’t seem to be anticipating to a see a midsize wagon. The incongruity of the RS6 Avant is with out query an enormous a part of its attraction.
There are three exhaust settings – Quiet, Automated (regular) and Current – although even the loudest retains issues respectable underneath regular acceleration. One other a part of the stealthiness.
And also you desire a efficiency SUV, why?
What a machine. It is a massive automobile, nevertheless it’s remarkably able to slicing by means of the tight, technical canyon highway bits I threw at it within the Santa Monica Mountains. When you get previous the preliminary turn-in, which feels fairly regular, it eagerly tucks itself into the flip with the rear finish rotating round. It feels rear-biased whereas nonetheless offering the arrogance of all-wheel drive. Once more, a big-time transformation with Dynamic.
And also you desire a efficiency SUV, why? Half II
You possibly can preserve your X5 M Competitors, thanks very a lot. The RS 6 Avant’s greater than sensible sufficient for me, representing an considerable improve in measurement over my outdated A4-based Allroad that needed to go as a result of it simply wasn’t sufficiently big for my household. The A6-based Avant is A-OK, with ample backseat room and a big, helpful cargo space that advantages from certainly one of my favourite cargo space options: the roll-up cargo web.
You possibly can learn extra about that and the whole lot that it could possibly maintain in my RS6 Avant baggage check.
Oh my god, the engine
This engine, a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 good for 621 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque, is one helluva manner for Audi to exit of the interior combustion enterprise. Doff your cap, exit stage left. It hits 60 mph in 3.3 seconds and, once more, sounds extremely superior doing it.
I gunned it after turning onto an extended straight on Mulholland Freeway. Holy expletive. It simply goes and goes and goes. You get that preliminary torque blast, not in contrast to that of an EV, however then the ability simply saved coming and coming with ferocity. It’s really intense.
Energy supply modifications dramatically with drive mode, although. Throttle response is pared again significantly in Automated/regular mode, and never in a lazy mushy manner, however extra in a manner that highlights simply how feisty it’s in Dynamic mode. In the meantime, the eight-speed computerized is sort of too desirous to downshift underneath braking in Dynamic. There have been a few instances heading right into a nook when it kicked down one too many cogs. Simple, tiger.
The steering is simply so good
I’m undecided when it occurred, however the steering in S and RS Audi fashions bought extraordinarily good. Not Porsche tactility, however on the dimensions of issues, it’s fairly excessive. RS 3, S4, and even an SQ7 have impressed with their potential to transmit what’s happening at pavement degree to my palms. The RS 6 Avant, not surprisingly, does in order nicely.
Once more, there’s notable distinction between drive modes. Now, it’s onerous to inform between the 2 on-center, and even effort at preliminary turn-in isn’t terribly completely different. However when you go a bit additional, Dynamic is remarkably fast and keen to show. Steering can be fast sufficient that I didn’t must shuffle steer a lot round corners. I don’t suppose it’s essentially the most feelsome steering, however the weighting is spot-on on a regular basis.
I’m going to overlook Audi’s twin-screen inside
The central touchscreen is small by right this moment’s luxurious automobile requirements and isn’t built-in into some large, curved housing with the IP like Audi’s next-gen system might be. No matter. I actually like this technique. It’s simple to make use of, seems to be good, reacts shortly, and sufficient can’t be mentioned for the haptic suggestions that clicks again at you simply as Audi’s buttons have richly performed for many years now. Actually, each the principle infotainment touchscreen and the second beneath principally devoted to HVAC could be higher described as “press screens” since they take a extra concerted effort to have interaction no matter “button” you’ve pressed. I actually hope haptic suggestions survives to the subsequent era.
Sufficient with the information barf. What the hell is my velocity?
As a lot as I just like the infotainment system, I can’t say I just like the all-digital instrument panel. There are three designs, all of that are newfangled info-barf issues that do not put sufficient emphasis on key instrument panel information like, I don’t know, your velocity! Check out the pic above left and see how lengthy it takes you to seek out the zero subsequent to “MPH.” The RS mode format pictured above proper can be daft, with this bizarre two-lane top-to-bottom tachometer along with your selection of black or white background. Cease attempting so onerous.
An excessive amount of is non-compulsory
For a automobile that begins at $126,895, together with vacation spot, there’s an terrible lot that’s non-compulsory. Full leather-based inside, head-up show and heated rear seats are in a $2,750 package deal, whereas adaptive cruise management, blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning, site visitors signal recognition and auto rear emergency braking are within the $2,250 Driver help package deal. That stuff particularly needs to be normal. There’s additionally a bunch of dear aesthetic upgrades and a $4,900 Bang & Olufsen sound system that kicks.
Having a look on the Audi configurator, “my” RS6 Avant could be painted Ascari Blue ($595) ‘trigger I assume I don’t wish to be that stealthy, it will have the usual 21’s, have the usual black RS seats (that are good, by the best way) with blue stitching, the Driver help package deal (principally for adaptive cruise) and the Bang & Olufsen system trigger I’ve $AllTheMoney in spite of everything. Or, extra exactly, $127,490.
Alas, I do probably not, and when the good man got here to retrieve the RS6 Avant from my driveway I used to be a tragic panda. This automobile is an all-star, a legend within the making, a motive to like automobiles. It’s concurrently a each day driver, a weekend canyon carver, a method assertion and a household highway tripper. Chef’s kiss.
