You would think the 435-horsepower Audi S6 would be enough to satisfy most Audi enthusiasts, but of course there are always a few rich guys who want more. They'll get more with the introduction of the 2008 Audi RS 6. Caught lapping the Nürburgring test track, it's Audi's latest entry into the German super-sedan war.
At first glance this prototype doesn't look much different than the standard S6, which doesn't look that much different from an A6 for that matter. There are visible differences on this test mule, however, and most of them point to an RS-spec car.
The overall shape of the front end is essentially unchanged, but the lower edge of the front airdam is a little more robust than that of the S6 and the air intakes no longer feature a strip of LED lights across the top. Double-spoke wheels similar to those used for the current Audi RS 4 are another tip-off to this prototype's enhanced specification sheet. Out back, this Audi also features a pair of oval exhaust tips — another design element exclusive to Audi's ultrahigh-performance RS models.
So if this is the upcoming Audi RS 6, what should you expect under the hood? Given there's already a 5.2-liter V10 in the S6, an increase in displacement isn't likely. Our best guess at this point is a turbocharged setup that will add between 50 and 100 horsepower. This will put the RS 6 firmly in super-sedan territory alongside the BMW M5 and Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG. Listening closely to the video, it's clear this prototype has some kind of automatic gearbox instead of a true manual like the smaller RS 4. We can't tell if it's one of Audi's S-Tronic dual clutch setups, but it does blip the throttle on downshifts.
Look for the debut of the high-powered Audi RS 6 at the Frankfurt auto show in September. Sales in the U.S. could start as early as the end of this year.
At first glance this prototype doesn't look much different than the standard S6, which doesn't look that much different from an A6 for that matter. There are visible differences on this test mule, however, and most of them point to an RS-spec car.
The overall shape of the front end is essentially unchanged, but the lower edge of the front airdam is a little more robust than that of the S6 and the air intakes no longer feature a strip of LED lights across the top. Double-spoke wheels similar to those used for the current Audi RS 4 are another tip-off to this prototype's enhanced specification sheet. Out back, this Audi also features a pair of oval exhaust tips — another design element exclusive to Audi's ultrahigh-performance RS models.
So if this is the upcoming Audi RS 6, what should you expect under the hood? Given there's already a 5.2-liter V10 in the S6, an increase in displacement isn't likely. Our best guess at this point is a turbocharged setup that will add between 50 and 100 horsepower. This will put the RS 6 firmly in super-sedan territory alongside the BMW M5 and Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG. Listening closely to the video, it's clear this prototype has some kind of automatic gearbox instead of a true manual like the smaller RS 4. We can't tell if it's one of Audi's S-Tronic dual clutch setups, but it does blip the throttle on downshifts.
Look for the debut of the high-powered Audi RS 6 at the Frankfurt auto show in September. Sales in the U.S. could start as early as the end of this year.
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