The headline might sound like a zoo-break.
And as sure as lions are lions, the new RS6 Avant GT will emit sounds like a pack of wild animals at full chat. That’s a foregone conclusion.
But what you’ll want to know is this.
Is the new RS6 Avant GT’s bite as ferocious as its bark?
In short, the answer is both yes and no.
But let’s start with the bad bits, shall we
If you don’t like inyerrface livery on your sports wagon, then we’re afraid you’re clean out of luck when casting otherwise furtive glances in the general direction of the new Audi RS6 Avant GT.
Because it will only ever come in the one Audi Sport Heritage paint job.
Although that’s not entirely true (more after the drop).
As there’s the three variations on the loose theme of Audi Sport Heritage. And in particular the job of graphic homage-paying to the Audi 90 IMSA GTO of legend.
The three wrap combinations are as follows, according to the official Audi colour palette:
Arkona White (essentially white with orange and black accents), Nardo Grey (grey with black elements) and Mythos Black (black with flashes of grey, perversely).
The bottom line is, you pays your money and you do as Audi says.
It WILL be sporting a garish wrap, whether you like it or not. But the chances are as an Audi motorsport and performance fan, you’ll love it. We mean, why wouldn't you.
And boy, it’s an eye-watering amount of money we’re talking here.
Pennies shy of £177k to be precise, should your bank manager sanction your ‘investment’ in one of the 660 new Audi RS6 Avant GT cars Ingolstadt is building.
Along with the resolute triumvirate of take-it-or-leave-it exterior stickerbomb schemes, the other thing that Audi is not bending on is roof rails.
Which is odd, because the last time we looked, the Avant was STILL an estate car.
And, you know, one of the practical features/benefits of an estate car is that it comes into its own when you’re carting discarded belongings off to the recycling centre. Or heading away for a few days.
But then when you think about it, will roof rails actually be missed by the nominal number of folk who will be using the new Audi RS6 Avant GT as a load-lugger. No more than your average SUV owner ever puts so much as a pair of slightly muddy walking boots in the back of their off-road vehicle.
Times. Of. Sign. The. Etc.
Upset Aero
It upsets the aero apparently. Don't snigger.
The airflow simply hasn’t got the time to circumnavigate a couple of ergonomically-streamlined roof or tent boxes, or the occasional bike strapped to said roof rails because it’s in too much of a hurry.
So the solution was to delete the roof rails.
But tell us this.
When was the last time you saw an RS6 Avant with a leisure box, bikes or grandfather clock strapped to the roof. Probably, close to never.
Somewhat contrary logic too, because despite drag coefficients being favoured at the expense of practicality, the performance gains observed are pretty much non-existent.
Basically, the new Audi RS6 Avant GT is no more fleet of foot than the standard RS6.
Really?
Yes, really.
The self-same twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 lump sits beneath a carbon fibre lid, summoning up the exact 621bhp and 590lb ft of torque generated by the £130k ‘standard’ RS6 Performance.
Which then leads you to beg the question as to what the additional nigh-on £50k bags you.
Aside from white rims and a Tron-esque paintjob.
Lost opportunities, possibly.
And controversially, style trumping substance.
Especially when you consider that the 90 IMSA GTO-inspiration behind the new Audi RS6 Avant GT had some 710bhp of purebred hostility chomping at its leish back in the mists of its timeline.
And that was eked out of just 2.2-litres and 5-cylinders, lest we forget.
STOP PRESS!! IT’S GOT WHITE WHEELS!!
Now we’ve got the negative vibes out of the way, it’s time to address the positives though.
And one of the positives is so exciting that we’re frequenting CAPITAL LETTERS again.
Indeedy.
The new Audi RS6 Avant GT comes with white wheels.
22” six-spoke Avus rims in white. Ohh yess.
We’ve never met anyone who doesn’t love a really white rim. Not even Jonathan Ross or Jamie Oliver.
It also brandishes manually adjustable suspension that affords the car a lowered stance. And then there’s the rear roof spoiler inspired by the RS6 GTO concept.
Oh, and have we mentioned the RS3-style vents in the front wheel arches or carbon fibre bonnet yet? The latter a first in a production Audi.
Elsewhere there’s a more ‘mean n moody’ rear diffuser (complete with a central rain light), and THAT livery.
Because, in all seriousness, the Audi Sport Heritage decals look incredible in the metal.
See. It's not all bad news.
Even if you’re not a fan of stickerbombing and/or roof rail deletes.
Anyway, It’s What’s On The Inside That Counts, Right?....
And then we take a ganders at the inside.
On account of the shrinking violet approach to exterior graphics, you might easily jump to the conclusion that the interior would be equally migraine-inducing and non-negotiable.
As it happens you’d be wrong though. VERY wrong in fact.
Shockingly, subtlety is the name of the new Audi RS6 Avant GT's game.
As an abject lesson in the less-is-more approach to car interiors. All the more bizarre when we’re referring to Audi too.
From a practical perspective, there’s a supportive pair of bucket seats.
But thereafter there’s little else to remind you that you’re sat in the throne room of something that looks THIS/THAT tasty on the other side of the glass.
‘GT’-inscribed floor mats, and whatever individual number of the 660 only model run that you exchanged your hard-earned for etched on the piano–black centre console.
On which numerical note; rumour has it that a mere 60 of the 660 will be made available to UK buyers.
That’s your lot then, in terms of interior differentials.
There’s A Lot To Like
Naturally, Audi will drag out that age-old adage about ‘why fix something that’s not broken’ when taken to task over the power outage remaining on a fixed tariff too.
Yet saying that, another well-oiled phrase could be used ad verbatim at this juncture.
The one which sounds a lot like, ‘all show and no go.’
Although to imply that ANY RS6 lacks punch is chatting absolute chuff.
Make no mistake, the new Audi RS6 Avant GT is epic all ways up. And has the sort of kerb appeal and presence that many other manufacturers’ money simply couldn’t buy.
But then you might struggle to find pockets deep enough to own one of these awesome performance estates. And that’s if you’re quick enough to snaffle up one of the sought-after 60.
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