Audi RS6 puts the boot in

What is it?

The RS6 is Audi's A6 gone feral. It's been available for a while now in Avant (estate) guise, but Audi has added a saloon for those not wanting their RS6 with a load-hauling rear. Audi waited to add the RS6 saloon so it could be introduced with the trick LED rear lights that feature on the newly facelifted A6 range. Forget about the boot for a minute though as the RS6 is about power. And lots of it, the muscular saloon delivering a quite staggering 571bhp - a very comfortable margin more than its obvious BMW M5 and Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG rivals.

Is it any good?

Anything with a twin-turbocharged 5.0-litre V10 engine and all that power is always going to excite us. To what degree it excites is the real question. The RS6 is comically fast, this loony-saloon able to sprint to 62mph in a quite silly 4.5 seconds, and it does so with ease thanks to Audi's quattro four-wheel drive system. Prod the accelerator and the way the RS6 gathers speed is incredible, the soundtrack that accompanies enthusiasm with your right foot being a bass-rich and deep roar that's hugely addictive. Lifting off is just as much fun, the crackling and sucking noises that emanate from the exhausts sounding supercar exotic.

The pace is right up there with supercars too, but the RS6 offers so much more practicality. It is, after all, a large executive saloon that seats five in comfort. The boot is massive as well, even without the extra practicality of the estate body. The RS6 rides very well too, Audi's Dynamic Ride Control working effectively; it's actually quite comfortable on the Comfort setting. The steering lacks real feel, though is very weighty and precise; turning the RS6 is a real treat if you opt for the Alcantara trimmed wheel. The automatic shifts quickly and smoothly, the brakes are hugely efficient (especially if you've opted for the massive optional ceramic discs) and the interior beautifully finished. The RS6 is an incredible car that outguns its BMW and AMG rivals for power and pace, but its rivals shine against the sledgehammer Audi for poise and feel.

Should I call the bank manager?

The Audi's key rivals aren't just more involving on the road, they are also a good bit cheaper. Choosing the saloon RS6 over its estate relative only saves you £1,570. That means a price tag of £76,160, which is an insane amount of money. However, if you're used to supercar pace and you need a family car then the cost of it isn't likely to be an issue. Regardless of how wealthy you are you'll tire of filling it up, the RS6 only achieving 20.3mpg on the official combined cycle. Figure on getting a good deal less than that on everyday driving. The RS6 isn't a purchase anyone will make with costs in mind, which is just as well really.

Summary

Massively powerful, ridiculously expensive and comically fast the RS6 is a fairground ride of a car. There's no rational reason why you would own one, but that's actually part of its enormous appeal. It's not as polished dynamically as its M5 rival and the AMG E 63 makes a sound that's even more rousing, but the RS6 offers all-weather effectiveness thanks to its quattro four-wheel drive system that neither rival can offer. Silly. But wonderfully so.

Kyle Fortune