Firstly, apologies to the motorist on the Canungra to Beaudesert Road, in the Gold Coast Hinterland. It was not my intention to frighten you. It just happened. One second I was getting ready to pass, checking for on-coming traffic and in a fraction of a second I was out and past and back in the left lane. To the other driver it must have been just a black flash. For legal reasons I am unable to inform you of the terminal speed of that passing manoeuvre. Needless to say the next time I executed the passing of a slower vehicle, I laid considerably off the right pedal. No point in scaring the pants off two fellow motorists, let alone speeding on a public road.
Audi's fastest-ever car requires a racetrack as much as a road test . It would more at home, in Germany, on the autobahns where it can be driven to it's heart's content. That's one big ticker. The new Audi RS 6 sedan is a border-line super-car. It is powered by a twin-turbo V10 borrowed from Audi cousin, Lamborghini, where it resides in the Gallardo.
The Lambo's performance and that of the 2009 RS 6 is a matter of a few tenths of a second and the RS 6 is slightly slower due to it's weight. It has to tote around almost two tonnes of heavy metal. Despite the paunch, the RS 6 delivers 0-100 km/h in 4.5 seconds, a tenth of a second faster than the wagon variant – Avant in Audi-speak – due to the sedan being ' 'lighter' than the Avant.
Audi's R S cars are from the maker's performance division and compete against the likes of Mercedes-Benz AMG and BMW's `M' cars. The RS 6 replaces the RS 4 sedan, which we have to say, was about our favourite automobile in this almost super-car segment.
The RS 4 sedan won 2007 World Performance Car of the Year, the same year it ceased production after just two years. After almost a week in the RS 6, nothing happened to change our mind about the RS 4. We would still prefer to drive it. Luckily, should we win Lotto, the RS 4 Avant is still in showrooms. The RS6 arrived in Australia earlier this year well after the launch of the Avant RS 6. These are large, heavy, high-performance cars. Their considerable weight is matched by their considerable asking price: $263,500 for the sedan and $271,900 for the Avant.
Despite the RS 6's lightning performance it can be driven as a conservative family sedan. The engines purrs around town, giving little hint of the V8-like growl under full throttle. The only signs that this A 6-based car is out of the ordinary comes from the subtle badges, not so subtle 20 inch alloys, and styling cues that identify it as a top-of-the-line model.
The big, single frame grille suits the car, there are large air intakes, headlights with Xenon plus adaptive lights, R S 6 LED daytime running lights, flared guards and deep side skirts, rear diffuser and spoiler integrated into the boot lid. Two extra large oval exhaust pipes top off the externals. For a non-Audi person it is just another large German marque, non-descript, but all the same time oozing class. More limo than the fastest-ever Audi.
While we could babble on about the car's considerable go, there's a lot more to the RS 6 than a bloody great engine. It has all wheel drive – quattro in Audi speak - and handles like it's on train tracks with just a hint of understeer under heavy cornering. Hit the right pedal and the big car's body clings to terra firma as the car rockets out of corners with amazing composure.
The big wheels are shod with 275/35 tyres which up front have six-piston calipers that clamp down on 390 mm discs. The rear brakes are 365 mm. It stops as well as it starts. For the enthusiast there's a ceramic brake system that weight 12.2 kilograms less than steel discs. They will set you back $20,867, or slightly more than a 1.6 litre Volkswagen Polo Pacific at $19,990.
For a high-performance vehicle the RS 6 exhibits high comfort levels. Forget harshness, it simply does not exist in the RS 6. Audi engineers developed a damping system to reduce pitch and roll, called Dynamic Ride Control. Hydraulic lines and valves connect diagonally-opposed pairs of shock absorbers. When cornering, the flow of fluid to the damper of the compressing outside front wheel increases, giving firmer support and reducing roll. This system combines with the sports suspension which offers three selectable settings: sport, dynamic and comfort. We found for all but track use Sport and Comfort were more than adequate.
The RS 6 has club feel to the interior with splashes of carbon fibre, aluminium, piano lacquer and Alcantara leather. It oozes quality. Standard equipment includes colour monitor with TV and navigation, advanced key entry, electric glass sunroof, dual-zone air conditioning, acoustic parking assistant front and rear, rear camera, three spoke multi-function steering wheel with flat bottomed rim, and Bose sound system.
FEATURES
ABS Brakes: Standard with EBD and ESP
Air Conditioning: Dual Zone
Automatic Transmission: 6 spd Tiptronic
CD Player: Standard
Central Locking: Standard
Cruise Control: Standard
Dual Front Airbags: Standard
Front Side Airbags: Standard
Stability Control: Standard
Traction Control: Standard
SPECIFICATIONS
ENGINE:
Petrol with twin turbo chargers
Capacity: 4.991 litres
Configuration: V10
Head Design: DOHC
Compression Ratio: 10.5:1
Bore/Stroke: 84.5 mm x 89.0 mm
Maximum Power: 426 kW @ 6250- 6700 rpm
Maximum Torque: 650 Nm @ 1500 – 6250 rpm
DRIVELINE:
Driven Wheels: quattro all wheel drive
Manual Transmission: N/A
Automatic Transmission: Standard
Final Drive Ratio: 3.317
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4928 mm
Wheelbase: 2846 mm
Width: 1889 mm
Height: 1456 mm
Turning Circle: 12.2 metres
Kerb Mass: 1985 kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 80 litres
Towing Ability: N/A
SUSPENSION AND BRAKES:
Front Suspension: Independent, four link
Rear Suspension: Independent, trapezoidal link
Front Brakes: Ventilated disc
Rear Brakes: Ventilated disc
PERFORMANCE:
0-100 km/h Acceleration: 4.5 seconds
FUEL CONSUMPTION:
Type: Ron 95
Combined Cycle (ADR 81/01): 13.9 L/100km
GREEN VEHICLE GUIDE RATINGS:
Greenhouse Rating: 3/10
Air Pollution Rating: 6.5/10
STANDARD WARRANTY:
Three years/ Unlimited km
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