The estate car that can mix it with Porsche and Lamborghini
Audi has built the worlds fastest estate car. The Germans have always run the performance estate car market with an iron fist. Though with their latest RS6 they have rewritten the book!
The car in the photo is the 2013 Audi RS6 Avant though it might as well be a Porsche 911 Carrera S. Thats because its just as fast. It will get you to 62 miles per hour in under 3.9 seconds which is just as quick as a Lamborghini Gallardo! Lets think about this for a minute….thats a car with supercar statistics with enough room to fit the whole family and two dogs!
The normal Audi RS6 is limited to 155 miles per hour. However, if you pass the Audi salesman a cheque for £10,700, on top of the £75,000 list price, then they will remove its electronic shackles and raise the game to a staggering 189 miles per hour! This will also get you ceramic brakes, sports suspension and bigger wheels – and trust us, you'll need them.
It takes a while to get used to just how fast this car really is. Its twin turbo V8 is capable of a supercar-esque 560bhp and 516 or torque, certainly enough to destroy any tarmac. Audis four wheel drive system ensures that all of this power gets to the road without sliding you off into the nearest lamp post. However, unlike a conventional supercar, the steering isn't super sharp or as responsive. The suspension certainly isn't firm enough either but this does mean that you can take this car out on longs drives without needing to visit the osteopath.
The Audi RS6 is a car of compromises. Its great on long distances where you can sit back and simply enjoy the cruise. It can also double up a coffin carrying hearse with such large space in the back. Though be sure to strap everything down securely if you intent to drive like the stig!
So, does all this performance come at a cost? Well, the guys at Audi claim that the RS6 will give you 28.8 mpg combined which is astounding considering the type of car it is. Such figures are hard to believe but the RS6 does have a couple of clever tricks up its sleeve to help achieve these figures. For example, it has the ability to shut down cylinders to save fuel. However, drive it like the engineers expect you to and you can expect to be stopping at a petrol station many times.
There is no doubt that the RS6 is a very fast car but you'll have problems gelling with it. It feels as clinical as the BMW M5. There are a myriad of systems and things you can change about the car such as the suspension and steering feel. However, quite a few of these settings aren't really suited to UK roads.
The Audi RS6 is beautifully put together with lashings of fine materials making the interior one of the best in the business where only a Bentley or Rolls Royce can better it. The sports seating will hold you firmly in tight bends almost giving a F1 car type feel.
In conclusion, the Audi RS6 is a fantastic car. It really is a supercar in disguise. However, its because of this you may want to install sick-bags for your passengers!
