2009 AUDI RS-6 Avant arrives down under
October 31, 2008 by Matt Brogan
When most new models arrive in Australia, we at the CarAdvice office tend to get absorbed in the moment, after all, that’s our job. But when the new Audi RS-6 landed this morning, well… let’s just say we got a little bit excited.
With it’s 5.0-litre twin turbo V10 producing 426 kW and 650 Nm through Audi’s renowned Quattro all wheel drive system, not to mention the superb handling all wrapped in a package most punters would shrug off as just another wagon, it’s enough to make a grown man drool.
First deliveries are to clever customers who’d planned ahead and ordered one of these babies. They will be delighted that their hard earned $270,946 have scored them a wagon that is truly unrivalled in terms of power, style, exclusivity and of course quality.
And for family buyers, the RS-6 remains a practical everyday wagon, even offering (up to) 1,660 litres of luggage space. Besides, I can’t think of a kid on the planet who wouldn’t smile at being picked up from school in one of these.
The 4,991 cc TFSI V10 uses dry-sump lubrication and two turbochargers with up to 1.6 bar of boost pressure. Peak torque of 650Nm is available from 1,500 to 6,250rpm with maximum power of 426kW generated between 6,250 and 6,700rpm for linear pull all the way to an electronically-limited top speed of 250 km/h.
0-100km/h in dealt with in 4.6 seconds, in case you have better things to do, and as always the aural symphony on hand is pure bliss.
Audi’s revised six-speed tiptronic transmission has a reaction time of just one tenth of a second, and has had shift times halved compared to that of the model it replaces. Steering wheel mounted paddles are included for manual shifting and to make things even more enjoyable, the Quattro drive train is said to be “rather biased toward the rear”.
Dynamic Ride Control or DRC (part of the RS-6’s standard ‘Sports Suspension Plus’) reduces pitch and roll by utilising hydraulic lines and valves connected diagonally to the opposing pairs of shock absorbers. When cornering, the flow of fluid to the shock absorber of the compressing outside front wheel increases, providing firmer support and reducing roll. DRC also offers a choice of three settings – sport, dynamic and comfort.
The ESP system has a slightly delayed threshold to ensure the electronic nannies don’t take all the fun out of things, but is still on hand to bring you in to line should anything untoward occur.
20-inch alloy wheels with six-pot aluminium calipers up front clamp down on 390 mm brake disks. The rear dics measure 356 mm and features a single-piston floating brake caliper. The floating steel discs also feature large cooling ducts and axial perforations for enhanced performance and reducing weight.
Outside RS-6 is differentiated by a single-frame grille, large air intakes, adaptive xenon headlamps, LED daytime running lamps, pumped guards, rear diffuser and integrated tailgate spoiler – oh and who could forget – two large oval exhaust pipes.
Inside a colour monitor featuring analog and digital TV reception, electric tilt/slide glass sunroof, satellite navigation, dual-zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors, three spoke leather sports steering wheel (with flat-bottomed rim) and a Bose surround sound system. RS-6 also gains a boost pressure indicator in the instrument cluster.
A sedan version is expected to join the Avant in the first quarter of 2009.
Print it: 
as a wise man once said, if i had to pick 1 car for the rest of my life i’d pick this.
Dry sump, twin turbo, 430KWs. 630 torques !!!!!!!!!!!! What the hell for in a wagon!
Soccer mums will kill themselves.
Forget GM LS9s, Can audi supply crate V10s please?
That is what I call an impressive car!, looks great, practical and oh so fast..I personally would probably save some cash and buy the RS-4 6 speed manual wagon, and enjoy the proper man box and the sound of the atmo v8 under hard accelaration! Its the best sounding v8 ive ever heard..
Wow.
My dream car!! This, or an R8 (very similarly priced), I’d definitely take this!!
The only thing I would like to see with this, is a DSG box instead of the auto trans. Apart from that, its spot on!
When I first heard about this new RS6 I was absolutely stunned! The performance and power figures to blow your mind. But…
Check that price!!!
For $270k, I’d rather buy a Nissan GT-R as a weekend fun box, with a standard BMW 3 or 5 series as the daily driver, and still get some change!!
I mean really, it is still a wagon, and for that sort of money I know what I’d rather be driving!
I drove one of these a few months back in the UK. Pretty spectacular car! Not a big fan of auto’s but it kind of suited the car i thought. Acceleration is crazy for such a big car!
dribble dribble dribble dribble dribble dribble dribble dribble dribble dribble dribble dribble dribble dribble
I WANT ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
$270k OMG. That is mad.
I am a wagon man ,and this is the ultimate one. Maybe if they drop a price to 200k, maybe 150k, or even 80k, the truth is i can’t afford one.
Still it costs nothing to dream.
Mind you, this RS6 is faster around the track than the R8.
It could be the best car on the road, but it is still very ordinary looking. I cant get my missus into a wagon (tried a V70R, and an XC70), and the audi is just way too understated for even me. I’d spend $250 on a hot sedan or coupe, then use the balance to get stuff delivered so I woudnt need the wagon.
Forget your lambos and Fezzas, the RS6 is a supercar for everyday.
Now to go check behind the couch for some spare change.
Audi is becoming like Mercedes Benz -not only large engine displacements(Huge in the case of MB)but also turbo(twin)charged-There is nothing technically inovative about the engine-I have more respect for the M3 V8 than this engine.
A 4.6 sec for the 0-100km/h-very fast..yes,impressive ..no!.A GTR would would kick this station wagon’s butt.
If it’s an everyday super car,as a station wagon, it would eventually lose i’ts special appeal-so you may as well buy a Holden SS V8 station wagon!
Although if you can afford this type of car, fuel costs won’t be a deterent however, on another Australian website they quoted 14L per 100kms and if pushed hard it will easily use 21L per 100kms!
Why would anyone pay $270k for a station wagon????
Surely you would rather spend it on a nice looking lamborghini or a ferrari!!!!
Used Audi – Try getting a wardrobe in a Lambo and do 0-100 in less than 5’s. Ha Ha.
Really B-Man – don’t believe a minute, You drove it in your dreams I think.
Takes the M5 to slaughter.
270k for a station wagon.LOL.
Should be a bargain used car buy in four or five years.
This doesn’t do it for me, who in their right mind would want to spend that much money on a station wagon?
I love performance sedans, but common, that is just absurd.
Fasthonda, does 14L/100km surprise you for a big v8 station wagon? What are you talking about the sportswagon?
You do realise most performance cars including stuff like the Evo, STi etc will suck over 20L/100km if pushed hard. I bet the GTR would be in the 30’s/40’s.
How far go with full of tank? 300 km?
Not good enough for my next road trip to NT.