Audi’s long awaited RS6 Avant was also on hand in Frankfurt. The good news is that this monster-wagon now sports a biturbo 5.0 liter FSI V10 churning out an amazing 580 bhp from 6,250-6,700 RPM and a tabletop flat 479 ft-lbs from 1,500-6,250 RPM. This ground breaking engine may have the most useable powerband of any street car engine ever made, certainly any engine coming out of Audi’s factory. Just as AudiWorld predicted in early 2006, Audi has returned to turbocharging in conjunction with FSI to keep pace in the German horsepower war.
Audi’s choice to lower displacement was made to add more block material between the bores in order to cope with the added cylinder pressures of turbocharging. The aluminum block with Alusil bores has also been strengthened in the crankshaft area. To improve lubrication under extreme cornering loads and reduce the engine height, a dry sump lubrication system was fitted. Our engineering experience tells us that this engine is electronically held back from its true potential, likely to keep the automatic Tiptronic transmission in working order under the massive torque potential of this engine.
Audi cars have always been the quintessential class leader in terms of well rounded performance, and the RS6 looks to be no exception. It’s much more than just a beast of an engine shoved into a wagon. Every facet of the car has been massaged to meet the extreme performance demands of wearing an Audi RS badge. Massive floating rotor 8 piston front brakes are standard with a ceramic brake option available for maximum performance. Audi’s 3rd generation fluid cross-linked DRC suspension system is employed to provide a blend of comfort and performance. The interior combines a sporty feeling with the highest level of luxury. Typical of RS cars, oil temperature is available in the center driver information display, as is a stopwatch. A welcome addition to the LCD display is a boost pressure readout.
Exterior style leans towards subtle performance. The widebody fenders are stepped in a way very reminiscent of the original Ur-quattro. The RS signature oval exhaust pipes flank an understated diffuser built into the rear bumper. New aggressively designed multispoke wheels proudly display the top notch stopping hardware beneath. This is THE wagon to have if point A and point B have an Autobahn or Nürburgring between them.
Remember that part about the “good” news? Well, here comes the bad. Audi insists that the C6 RS6 will not be coming to the US market anytime soon, meaning probably never. Sources say the US DOT is mainly to thank for this tragedy. Under the limited quantities the likely $100k+ RS6 would be sold under, the development, certification, and alteration costs to make the RS6 US compliant are difficult to justify. Currently, the RS6 only exists in an Avant bodystyle. A sedan is certainly in development, though quattro GmbH says there no plans to take it to the US either. For more info, click here for Audi’s official RS6 press release.
Is this a 100% “NO!”? Well, maybe not. The RS4 cabrio was also once branded verboten for US consumers, but things can change as Audi’s fastest droptop will soon be available stateside.
In other quattro GmbH news, rumor has it that no further power increases (or “plus” variants) should be expected from the current B7 RS4. The B7 platform will soon be obsolete in Europe, so Audi and quattro GmbH are focusing on bigger and better things at the moment. A V10 R8 variant is confirmed, though whether it turns out to be normally aspirated or biturbo fed cannot be confirmed at this point. We wouldn’t expect any extra power to be squeezed out of the R8’s current 8,250 RPM V8 either.
Audi’s wide range of other vehicles on display should not be forgotten in the midst of the two world premiers. A strong trend in this year’s IAA was fuel consumption and emission reduction. Neither topics are new to Audi.
Proudly on display was an A3 1.9 TDI e, with the “e” standing for efficiency. This diesel powered car scores a thrifty 52+ mpg (US gallons) combined city/highway fuel efficiency score. Audi’s hybrid concept was also on display combining a gasoline TSFI gasoline engine, an electric motor, an 8 speed automatic transmission, and Audi’s legendary quattro AWD system. If Audi decides to go ahead with this concept, it will open up a niche market. You’re not going to find an AWD Prius that’s any fun to drive at the Toyota dealer anytime soon. Unbeknownst to most, hybrid technology is not new to Audi. Audi was the first European car company to offer a hybrid car in series production in 1997 with the innovative Audi duo 3.
Also gathering attention was a stunning white R8 with carbon fiber sideblades. This contrasting combination is really an attention-getter. A mainstream selection of various other A3/A4/A5/A6/A8 cars were also available for guests of the show. Some of the more interesting items found in the Audi area were computer driven programs which can instantly show renderings of the various exterior and interior configurations available in the new A4. When working, the renderings were breathtaking. When the Windows OS gremlins reared their heads, the whole system crashed much to the users’ dismay.
The world’s largest car expo once again failed to disappoint. Being Audi’s home turf, the Ingolstadters brought out their biggest guns to the occasion. The A4 seems to be an amazing combination of luxury, performance, and practicality while the RS6 Avant raises the super-wagon benchmark for time to come. Stay tuned to AudiWorld for more information on Audi’s expanding lineup of gasoline and diesel vehicles as Audi continues their pursuit of “Truth in Engineering...”
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