Audi has announced a performance version of the RS 6 Avant and RS 7 Sportback that gives them the sort of power even a supercar would fear.
Alterations to the 4.0-litre TFSI take the engine output to 605PS (597bhp) and torque to 700Nm, or 750Nm with the temporary overboost function in action. That allows a 0-62mph sprint of 3.7 seconds and a top speed of either 155, 174 or 189mph, depending on the spec.
That’s two-tenths faster than the standard RS model, while 0-124mph comes and goes in just 12.1 seconds, which is 1.4 seconds faster. Who says family estates have to be boring?
V8 engines are thirsty at the best of times but Audi claims the 4.0-litre TFSI biturbo can manage 29.4mpg in the RS 6 Avant and 29.7mpg in the RS 7 Sportback. CO2 is between 221 and 223g/km. Real world results are likely to vary, of course.
Like the standard model, the sporty RS performance variant uses a quattro all-wheel drive system to put all that power to the road. 40 per cent flows to the front axle and 60 per cent to the rear as standard, while a wheel-selective torque control system intervenes as necessary.
Audi’s RS adaptive air suspension can lower both models by 20 millimetres, while an integrated damping control adjusts the ride quality depending on the road conditions, driving style and the current Audi drive mode.
Brave souls who care more about cornering than their spine can opt for the RS sports suspension, which makes the ride even firmer. Meanwhile there’s the option of carbon ceramic discs for improved stopping power.
Although largely similar to the standard RS6 and RS7, the performance focussed versions enjoy a spot of matt and titanium detailing on the air inlet duct and RS super sport seats with side bolsters and integrated head restraints upholstered in black and blue Alcantara.
Both the RS 6 Avant and RS 7 Sportback will be available from November 2015 alongside the existing models, starting from £86,000 and £91,600, respectively.
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