Autonis design award winner fuses supercar performance with station wagon utility
The all-new 2021 RS 6 Avant, freshly recognized by readers of influential German publication auto motor und sport as having the best new design features among full-size models included in the prestigious Autonis Awards, celebrates 25 years of Audi Sport station wagons that combine the dynamics and performance of a supercar with the utility and practicality of a station wagon.
The model’s introduction in the Philippines further strengthens Audi Sport’s lineup in the country, which is presently composed of the phenomenal 5-cylinder-powered RS 3 Sedan and the RS Q8, the current lap record-holder among production SUVs at the Nurburgring. Bucking the current trend in the local luxury car segment, all the latest Audi Sport vehicles in the country are 2021-year models—not carryovers from the previous year.
Audi Sport, the high-performance division of Audi AG, develops and builds the RS models. A number of these models are set to join the RS 6 Avant, RS 3 Sedan and RS Q8 in Audi Sport’s lineup in the Philippines this year. Included among the models is theAudi Sport-developed R8 supercar, which is scheduled to be launched soon.
Key characteristics of the all-new RS 6 Avant include a front end made aggressive by a gloss-black Singleframe grille, extended side air inlets, and a hood boasting of a power dome. Just as distinct are its quattro blisters over the wheel arches, RS-specific sills with black inserts, a roof edge spoiler, and an RS-specific bumper marked by a gloss-black rear diffuser and other design elements. An RS exhaust system with oval tailpipes hint at the car’s power and performance.
Providing prodigious power to the all-new RS 6 Avant is a 4.0-liter, twin-turbo, TFSI gasoline V8 that makes 600hp and 800Nm of torque. This output, which allows the high-performance station wagon to sprint from rest to 100 km/h in only 3.6 seconds, and to 200 km/h in 12 seconds, is accompanied by a full-bodied, unmistakable V8 sound which can be tuned via the Audi drive select system. Drive select governs the all-new RS 6 Avant’s engine and transmission management, steering, and quattro all-wheel drive. Also fitted to the engine is a mild-hybrid system that lets the all-new RS 6 Avant to coast for up to 40 seconds with the engine switched off, and for start/stop operation at speeds of up to 22 km/h. Further boosting efficiency is the cylinder-on-demand system that switches off some cylinders at certain speeds and load.
An 8-speed tiptronic transmission tuned for quick shifting sends the power produced by the 4.0 TFSI V8 to the quattro system, which uses a mechanical center differential that distributes the power to the front and rear axles depending on available traction. Up to 70% of the power can be sent to the front, and as much as 85% to the rear. Aiding traction even more is the wheel-selective torque control. Guaranteeing the best possible contact with the road are 22” sport alloy wheels wrapped in high-performance tires.
In the Philippines, the all-new RS 6 Avant is equipped with the RS sport suspension plus with Dynamic Ride Control. The system integrates pitch and roll stabilization by using steel springs and three-way adjustable dampers, instantly counteracting the vehicle body’s movements. Set in comfort mode, it ensures a smooth ride quality. In dynamic program, it delivers extraordinary driving precision even when cornering at high speed.
Matched to these performance features is a roomier interior with increased luggage space. The cabin is fitted with a perforated leather-wrapped, flat-bottom steering wheel; RS aluminum shift paddles; RS sport seats; and plenty of RS and RS 6 badges. The car’s all-digital operating system has a black-panel design, and an “RS Monitor” display provides information on the temperature of the vehicle’s drive components, g-force figures, and tire pressure, among others. Numerous driver-assist systems keep the all-new RS 6 Avant comfortable, efficient and safe.
