Audi RS6 Avant Performance Battles BMW M5, E63 S in New Comparison
This battle between three red-hot German foes – including the new Audi RS6 Avant Performance – produces some truly fascinating results.
As if the Audi RS6 Avant wasn’t a desirable enough model as-is, the potent wagon was recently given even more capability, resulting in the debut of the new Performance model. The Audi RS6 Avant Performance is an edgier version of its hardcore brethren in a number of ways, with less sound insulation and more power – 30 additional horsepower and 37 more pound-feet of torque, to be specific. The result is a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 that churns out 621 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque through a revised Torsen limited-slip center differential. But is it enough to beat the chief rivals of the Audi RS6 Avant Performance – the BMW M5 and Mercedes-AMG E63 S?
To find out, the folks at Carwow recently decided to line up all three of these machines for a series of drag races and a braking test. It’s an interesting test for a number of reasons, including the fact that the BMW M5 – in its current guise – is set to be replaced by a new model soon, and the Mercedes-AMG E63 S is likely to see its V8 replaced by a straight-six and plug-in hybrid power in the coming years. Thus, this test is essentially a proper salute to these V8-powered German rivals.
In Competition spec, the BMW M5 in this test churns out 625 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque from its twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8, while the AMG offers up 612 horsepower and 627 pound-feet from its also twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8. In terms of weight, the M5 is the lightest at 4,111 pounds, followed by the AMG at 4,300 pounds and the Audi RS6 Avant Performance at a portly 4,607 pounds. The Mercedes gets a nine-speed gearbox, while the BMW and Audi make do with eight gears.
In a series of dig races, the RS6 Avant Performance looks like it has a chance at unseating the M5 as the quickest of this bunch, but comes up just a touch short. It’s clear – as our host points out – that weight is the one thing holding the Audi back, even though it launches better than its German rival. The RS6 does score a win in the first roll race, and it also won the braking test, in spite of its extra weight, with the AMG lagging behind in every test.
If there’s one thing that’s clear from this comparison, all three of these cars have plenty to offer, but the Audi RS6 Avant Performance is nearly as quick as the segment-leading M5 Competition, all while giving buyers far more utility and practicality thanks to its wagon body style. If Audi decides to put its red-hot wagon on more of a diet, or perhaps revised the transmission tuning and gearing, it could be a world beater. But for now, at least, we’ll simply have to settle for one of the most well-rounded vehicles on sale today – which is quite the consolation prize.
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