All-new 2020 Audi RS6 Avant debuts

Station wagons are boring, right? This is generally the impression most people have, as their vision of a wagon is an underpowered, boxy contraption that’s not fit for too much other than taking your kids on the school run, or your dog to the vet.

Well, throw all those preconceptions out the window, because Audi is letting hell break loose with its fourth-generation RS6 Avant, which packs a steroidal 600 hp/800 Nm 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 under its menacing snout. Mated to an eight-speed paddleshift auto and Quattro all-wheel-drive hardware, the electrifying Avant scorches its way from standstill to 100 kph in just 3.6 seconds, and hits 305 kph flat out.

These are bona-fide supercar numbers, yet the RS6 Avant offers seating for five and a luggage bay that can swallow 565 litres of cargo. Fold down the rear seats and this swells to 1,680 litres. And forget all those images of frumpy chariots on narrow tyres, because the RS6 Avant drips with visual muscle.

We had a sneak preview of the newbie in Munich last month, and we can confirm the wagon is positively drool-worthy. Only the doors, roof and tailgate are shared with the regular A6 Avant, as the massive 22-inch rims, bulging fenders, aggressive front fascia and crisply contoured bonnet are all unique to the RS6.

There’s also a new lighting package, and you can now optionally specify RS Matrix LED laser headlights with darkened trims. These and the new LED rear lights both feature a dynamic turn signal along with RS-specific sequencing when the vehicle is locked and unlocked.

Inside, you’ll find the high-tech Audi virtual cockpit layout, which now includes special RS displays provide information on tyre pressure, torque, power output, engine oil temperature, boost pressure, lap times, acceleration measurements and g forces. The shift light display prompts the driver to upshift when the maximum engine speed is reached.

Other goodies inside include a tasty flat-bottomed leather steering wheel, aluminium shift paddles and RS6 logos on the steering wheel, seats and the illuminated front door sill trims. The sport seats are trimmed as standard in black pearl Nappa leather/Alcantara, but there’s also the optional availability of Valcona leather with honeycomb pattern and RS embossing. As you’d expect, the RS6 Avant is loaded with connectivity and driver-assistance systems, including adaptive cruise assist, intersection assist, lane change warning, kerb warning and 360-degree cameras.

There’s a choice of 13 exterior colours for the RS6 Avant, including the RS-specific specific Nardo gray and Sebring black, along with a choice of five matte effect paint finishes. The exterior mirror housings come standard in black but, if you prefer, you can order them in body colour or matte aluminium.

The matte aluminium, black and carbon styling packages change the vertical blades, the horizontal splitter, the sill inserts, roof rails and window slot trims as well as the rear diffuser trim. The Audi rings and the RS logos at the front and rear can also be finished in gloss black as an option for the black and carbon styling packages.

Still think wagons are boring?