What is it?
Only the most powerful production estate money can buy. Forget the tuner specials that'll break the sound barrier and your bank balance; this is an Audi that'll carry you, your family and most of your belongings at insane speeds. It's the latest RS from Audi's quattro GmbH division, and to ensure it's got the firepower to beat its AMG and M Division rivals Audi has put a stonking 5.0-litre V10 under the bonnet and turned up the wick with a pair of big turbos. The result? A quite ludicrous 572bhp and the ability to sprint to 62mph in just 4.6 seconds.
Unlike its rear-wheel driven BMW M5 and Mercedes-Benz AMG E63 wunder-wagons the RS6 is four-wheel drive, allowing you to repeat that 0-62mph time in less than perfect conditions. Indeed, while its rivals are trying to melt their rear tyres and collecting up the mess with electronics the RS6 just hunkers down and gets on with the business of catapulting you forwards at silly speeds. If you've the space and are on an unrestricted autobahn it'll reach an electronically limited 155mph maximum. Without the electronic nannies? Figure on around the double ton.
Is it any good?
What's remarkable is that the RS6 manages its moon-shot performance yet remains so friendly to drive. A few years ago such prodigious pace would have been unthinkable in a supercar, let alone a car that's able to carry four adults and luggage in comfort. It's easy and tractable in traffic too; just pop the automatic in Drive and leave it to it. There's no histrionics from the engine, it just as happy to trundle through stop-start traffic as it is to be blasting around to its red-line when the road opens up. Understandably, that mighty powerplant dominates the RS6, despite its friendliness, its performance requiring you to recalibrate your senses and keep one eye firmly fixed on the speedometer.
Even so it never feels quite as savage as its rivals, its civility either an asset or negative depending on how you like your super-estates. The ride is remarkably supple for a high performance Audi, the three setting system allowing you to choose between Comfort, Dynamic or Sport. Dynamic covers all bases. The automatic gearbox offers similar choice, fully manual (shifted by wheel-mounted paddles or the central selector), automatic, or Sport. All work quickly, though manual shifts can be a bit notchy and it's sometimes reluctant to downshift to give engine braking. Which means it's just as well the brakes are so good, the huge discs also optionally offered in fade-resistant carbon, which also reduce the weight. The steering is meaty but quick, though lacks real communication through the wheel rim.
Should I call the bank manager?
At £77,625 you might just need to. Add those trick ceramic brakes and a few other choice options and you'll be looking at well into £80k. Fast as it is that's a huge pile of money. BMW and Mercedes-Benz AMG offer their über-estates for at least £10,000 less. Both the Mercedes and BMW are arguably more exciting to drive, more edgy, and more involving behind the wheel, the RS6 feeling a bit clinical, detached and nose heavy due to the forward position of its mighty V10. The Audi counters with its subtle good looks, fantastically comfortable and beautifully finished cabin, but then Audi's own S6 offers much the same, and for £20,000 less.
Summary
Audi beats its rivals in the power stakes but it's not quite as involving to drive as its German adversaries. It's devastatingly fast, and that four-wheel drive system gives it huge security, but the engine's position so far forward under the bonnet inevitably leads to understeer, requiring you to drive the RS6 in a different fashion to its M5 and E63 rivals. If big-number boasting is your thing then the RS6 is certain to appeal, but otherwise it doesn't really add up.
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