What do you get when you combine 560 horsepower, all wheel drive, 4 doors, plenty room for 4, and almost 60 cu-ft of cargo space? You get the 2014 Audi RS6 Avant, quattro of course.
Audi has been on a real roll lately. I recently drove a refreshed 2013 S5 Coupe and instantly fell in love with it. Everything about it felt right. They just released the high-end S-family of cars in the US. The S6, S7, and the S8 have been winning praise coast to coast. Our very own Nathan Adlan was blown away by these turbo V8 beauties.
Many say that Audi is underrating the new twin-turbo 4.0 liter V8. And now we know the next chapter in this 4.0 liter monster’s story, as Audi continues to hit home runs. The 2014 Audi RS6 Avant is rated at 560 HP at 5,700 rpm and 516 ft-lbs of torque starting at 1,750 rpm.
How does the new Avant compare to the previous generation? Well, the new motor produces just 12 fewer HP, but 37 more ft-lbs of torque than the old twin-turbo 5.0 liter V10. Yep, the new smaller motor out-twists the older relative. Now, the new car has another ace up its sleeve. It happens to be 220 lbs lighter overall. Also, the 4.0 liter V8 is obviously more compact and lighter than the V10, so it’s able to improve the nose heavy characteristic of older RS cars.
This car rides on air suspension that has several different modes and I am sure it can be just as comfy as the Grand Cherokee Overland Summit. Of course, it has Dynamic modes for great handling. The motor is backed by an updated 8-speed tiptronic automatic with quicker shift times. Powertrain routes all this power to the state of the art Quattro all wheel drive system, that features torque vectoring and a self-locking sport differential. It even has its own oil cooler.
Audi claims a 0-62 MPH in 3.9 seconds and ultimate top speed of 189.52 MPH. Considering the 2013 S6 can run 0-60 MPH in 3.7 seconds, I am thinking that Audi is sand-bagging a little on the RS6.
The 2014 Audi RS6 Avant is meant to carry 4 people in total comfort. Yes, the rear seat is configured for 2. I guess – if you have a need to carry more people, then just put them in the trunk.
No word yet if this model will be available for sale in the United States. My guess is that we are likely to see a sedan version of the RS6. In any case, I will take one in blue.
Andre Smirnov is a life-long automotive enthusiast, writer, and software engineer. On the weekends – you may find him at a car show, an auction, watching a race, or tinkering with a car in the garage. When not working or spending time with the family – he often scours the internet and other media for various automotive, mechanical, and computer related information.
