Hennessy-Tuned Audi RS6 Avant Hits 183 MPH While Hauling a Christmas Tree
This 800 HP Hennessey-tuned Audi RS6 Avant is pushed to its absolute limit as part of HPE’s “World’s Fastest Christmas Tree” tradition.
2021 had its fair share of challenges as the world battled the COVID-19 pandemic. However, for Hennessey Performance Engineering, Christmas came early this year. As its annual Christmas tradition, HPE loads a tree atop the roof of one of its souped-up creations. The team then pushes the car to its absolute limit. This year the team decided to use A Hennessy-tuned Audi RS6 Avant for the Christmas celebration.
“World’s Fastest Christmas Tree” is what Hennessy calls its Christmas tradition. The specially tuned station wagon belongs to the wife of Hennessey Performance Engineering’s founder and owner John Hennessey. Professional driver Spencer Geswein was behind the wheel of the wagon. Geswein also happens to be the senior instructor at the Ford Performance Driving School.
The twin-turbocharged 4-litre V8 powerplant under the hood produces 800 HP of maximum power, 209 HP more than what it produced in its factory spec, courtesy of the Hennessey treatment. HPE’s modifications allowed the Ingolstadt brand’s offering to hit a top speed of 205 mph during its first run without the Christmas tree.
The souped-up Audi RS6 Avant gets a modified exhaust system, which bestows it with a gnarly baritone.
As a result, the tuner claims that its high-performance Audi has set a new speed record for the world’s fastest station wagon. Safe to say, this is nothing short of a Christmas miracle for Hennessey Performance. The car also qualifies as a sleeper because Hennessy’s RS6 Avant retains its factory styling for the most part.
However, RS6 Avant’s top speed was reduced to 183 MPH once the tree was strapped onto the wagon’s roof. In addition to the extra weight, the car’s top speed was also affected by its compromised aerodynamics. Hennessy’s super wagon could perform better without the tree because of its 0.35 drag coefficient.
To put things in perspective, Audi claims that a dynamics plus package equipped RS6 Avant can achieve the top speed of 190 mph. Lastly, we are happy to report that the Christmas tree survived the high-speed run (yet another Christmas miracle).
“This was a fun way to end our most recent high speed testing session with our Venom F5. Afterall, who needs reindeer when your wife has an 800 bhp sleigh?” said John Hennessy.
Image Source: Hennessey Performance Engineering
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