Audi RS6 2016 Avant Performance UK review

Performance Audi RS6 is a little questionable, if we are honest. After all, taking existing standards, 552bhp Audi RS6 and add another 45bhp feels a bit like throwing fireworks into a huge bonfire. Things were already really very hot, so it seems unlikely that the movement will bring more to the party.

However, the RS6 has always been rough but charming, with a raucous twin-turbo V8 that gives visceral, indifferent ridiculous straight-line performance and very soft-edged V8 soundtrack yet aggressive. This performance version cost a further £ 7000 over £ 79 505 asking for a standard RS6, but for that you get the extra expenditure is not just the extra power - that drops the 0-62mph time by 0.1sec - but also overboost function that saw cause 553lb ft of torque, along with 21in alloys, sports exhaust and 'Titanium' styling package that brings contrast front splitter, door mirrors, rear diffuser and Quattro badging on the front grille.

How does it feel?

It is still battering ram of a car that appears to bull his way through the corner in a way that, to be honest, did not sit well on the streets of Britain. Our test car came with the optional £ 1000 Sports Suspension, which brought water instead of steel adaptive air suspension standard. Even with that and a lot of trail braking to keep the weight where you want, Performance RS6 prone to understeer, and quite numb, heavy steering also does little to hide the fact that this is a car that is quite heavy.

That is not to say that it was terrible to drive. We support the wheel during the ordinary light mode Dynamic mode artificially heavy, and sickle RS6 through a broad, sweeping curves in the quench fluid, carefully neutral fashion. But there is little or no finesse a way to go about something more complex or demanding of it; Jaguar XJR or a Mercedes E63 AMG exit either has more subtlety and serenity to their Handlin, which makes them feel more attractive and responsive.

It was not our only gripe. Again, the optional suspension, driving comfort in Dynamic mode is quite depressing, with short vertical sprung damper movement wince-inducing never let a passenger car or a rest. At least in the fashion gentle calming down a little, and trade that you make in more noticeable body roll is easy to take in support of absorption of bumps more forgiving and generally more settled ride comfort, although it always feels like a car company that works hard to keep many weight in check.

Now for what the RS6 is not good: speed. And lots of it. Gosh, RS6 is laughable. You can feel the difference between performance and standard cars? Been a while since we released the standard RS6 in England, but to be honest you would struggle to tell. Extra mid-range grunt will always be more important than top-end performance directly, so there may be a small fraction response ballistic when you're riding an overboost function, but more indulgent existing speed for your scramble inside in the second version of the RS6. There is no launch function, so just stand on the throttle is all it takes to experience the madness of the full-size car is stropping of up to 62mph from rest in 3.7sec. Four wheel drive system means you get almost nothing slip away from the line even in poor condition, and from there you can enjoy an impressive flexible, powerful stupid power delivery offered by more excited this twin-turbo V8. It sounds nice and it was brilliant fun to use in all kinds of situations, aided by a smooth-shifting eight-speed Tiptronic automatic gearbox.

Our car also came with carbon-ceramic brakes, which is a £ 9,375 option, and while we did not take the car on the track and therefore could not test the resistance they fade, they offer a decent pedal feel in all sorts of way to use once you are familiar with feedback initial sharp.

Otherwise, the width of a tire kicking a lot of noise but it was not disturbing enough to disturb your consciousness unless you hit the surface really rough, and, engine aside, RS6 Avant remains, of course, is really worth a large family estate that you can use every day - the same as other A6 estate. You get just about everything as standard including blue-woven inlay carbonfibre and leather diamond-stitched and Alcantara sport seats (which would spoil and hold in place virtually all forms of the driver), over the adaptive LED headlights and a complete audio, multimedia and driver aids. It's expensive, but you do not need to add anything.

Should I buy one?

We loved fast cars. They do not need to have a specific reason for existing other than to provide the necessary sensation, and that tends to tick every box in our book. But Audi RS6 Avant performance, while indecently fast, is not really a huge amount of fun besides just a blast together in a straight line. It just feels too heavy and short finesse suit most road UK, and you'll find yourself doing ridiculous speed before you feel like you even scratch the surface of its potential.

Of course, you can level this charge every stupid car fast. Range Rover Sport SVR, for example: it's big, fast and possible ballistically (for now, at least) one of the closest thing to rival the RS6 which really has. Except that you really have to be substantially more pleasant in the Range Rover in the UK at a normal pace than you would in the RS6 Avant. Okay, it was bordering on blasphemous to say an SUV is more fun than a real center of gravity is lower, but there you have it. Porsche Cayenne, as well, while not as extensive as the RS6, have a more dynamic finesse. So while there is much to like about the Audi, from a fantastic machine for styling impressive, there is little reason why you should actually buy one.

Performance Audi RS6 Avant

Location: UK; On sale: Now; The price of £ 86 420; V8 engine, 3993cc, twin-turbo, petrol; Power 597bhp at 6100-6800rpm; 516lb ft of torque at 1750-6000rpm (553lb ft at 2500-5500rpm on overboost); Gearbox automatic 8-SPD; Kerb weight 1950kg; 0 to 62mph in 3.7sec; Top speed 155mph (limited); Economic 29.4mpg (combined); Ranked CO2 & BIK tax band 223g / km, 35%

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