The Audi RS 6 Avant is by far one of the Station Wagon most loved by all. It is impossible to resist its elegant lines, the aggressive spirit of its wheels and, of course, the enormous thrust of its engine. And if family models are not your thing, Audi also has the RS 7 Sportback, another tremendously attractive model, with a sports sedan silhouette, but with the same powertrain as the RS 6.
But in the world of cars, there are always the mavericks, the ones who want more and more, even when more isn’t strictly necessary. The Germans love to give more in their sports models and it is the turn of both models to receive the Performance package.
changes to the powertrain
In the Performance package, the use of larger turbos and increased boost pressure 2.4 to 2.6 bar supercharging on the V8 4.0 TFSI engine allow an increase of 30 Hp in power and 36 more pound-feet of torque compared to base versions. This means that the maximum power goes from 591 Hp to 621 Hp, while the maximum torque increases from 800 to 627 Lb-ft. Performance models accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds, an improvement of 0.2 seconds over standard versions.
To help achieve those figures, the insulation in the engine bay, passenger compartment and rear of the car was reduced, apart from an extra diet of eight kilos in other components. Both models barely exceed two tons, which is still heavy, but much less than it could be.
Another improvement is found in the traction system. The eight-speed Tiptronic gearbox is faster and uses a mechanical center differential to distribute engine power to the rear axle in a 40:60 ratio. In case of slippage, it automatically applies more torque towards the axle with better traction, with a maximum of up to 70% towards the front axle and up to 85% towards the rear axle.
The new self-locking center differential is lighter and more compact, which improves driving dynamics and offers greater precision in corners, reducing understeer. Steering self-centering is also more precise. If we add all these elements together, we achieve legitimately more agile driving.something that always comes in handy in cars as big as these.
To manage the power of these beasts, as always, Audi has the Drive Select program with six driving modes: efficiency, comfort, auto, dynamic and the two customizable modes RS1 and RS2. The experience provided by the different driving modes in these Performance models is much more exclusive. For example, the inertial drive mode is now only automatically activated in the “efficiency” profile, switching off the engine in speed ranges up to 160 km/h and allowing “under sail” without fuel consumption or drag torque from the engine. propeller.
With the Dynamic mode or the S mode box, an optimization was achieved that allows more aggressive and accentuated changes, ideal to get the most out of the improvements in the engine.
changes in footwear
The Performance package on the new RS 6 Avant and RS 7 Sportback includes a set of 22-inch cast aluminum wheels In a 5-V-spoke design in matt titanium grey. For customers looking for an even sportier look, Audi optionally offers a new model of 22-inch wheels made using a high-tech forging process. They have an aesthetic of five “Y” spokes with a choice of four colours: shiny metallic black, matt neodymium gold, matt gray or matt black.
The new wheels improve the cooling of the brakes and are five kilograms lighter than those of cast aluminum, reducing the unsprung weight by 20 kg, which contributes to improving dynamic behaviour. They are associated with the new Continental Sport Contact 7 tires in 285/30 format, which also play a key role in saving weight and offer better grip in both wet and dry conditions, reducing understeer in fast corners and improving precision across the entire speed range. In addition, the braking distance from 100 to 0 km/h is reduced by up to 2 metres.
RS Dynamic package as standard
This package, optional on conventional models, comes standard on Performance models. It includes:
- The speed limiter “runs” up to 280 km/h
- The four-wheel steering system comes with an update that allows active interventions
- quattro sport differential on the rear axle
And because Audi can, it also has “the sport package of the sports package” available, with the surname “Plus” for the RS Dynamic package add:
- Extended speedometer with limiter up to 305 km/h
- RS brakes with 440mm diameter ceramic discs at the front and 370mm at the rear
- Ceramic discs can reduce unsprung weight by 34 kilos
- The calipers can be chosen in three colors: grey, red or blue.
aesthetic options
To make your model unique, Audi will offer a total of up to 16 body colors, including three exclusive shades: Ascari blue metallic or with a matt effect and Rocío matt silver. Among the exterior RS elements that distinguish these versions we find matt titanium gray finishes for the mirror housings, the spoiler and the front side flaps, the inserts in the side skirts, the roof rails, the window frames and the rear diffuser.
As optional equipment, a matt carbon black pack is available that applies this finish to the roof bars and window trims. At the customer’s choice, the Audi logo and model name rings can be chrome or black.
Inside
Inside, the gray and red RS package now also adds blue, exclusive to models with the Performance Pack. The color is not only visible in the contrasting stitching, but also on the seat belts and carbon fiber trim. Of course the rest is black, be it perforated Valcona leather or Dinámica synthetic suede, made from 45% recycled PET fibres. The RS Plus Styling Package adds some extra accents in Dinamica suede.
Anyway, if you want, you can personalize the car with more accessories, such as RS badging on the seats or illuminated sills. Everything is at your fingertips in the 3D digital configurator that the brand offers on its web pages.
The 12.3-inch display of the Audi virtual cockpit plus offers new functions, including a flashing indicator in manual transmission mode which changes the rev display from green to yellow to red, flashing identically to how race cars do to tell the driver the optimal time to shift. In addition, the Launch Control system includes new traffic light icons.
Both models can begin to be reserved from December 8, each with deliveries agreed for the next year.
