- A camouflaged prototype of the new Audi RS6 was involved in a minor crash test at the Nordschleife.
- The performance wagon slammed into the tire wall, but was able to slowly drive off and leave the track.
- The new RS6 is expected to debut later this year in both sedan and wagon body styles.
From a volume perspective, Audi’s most important debuts of the year will be the next-generation Q7 and the first-ever Q9. The A2 is coming back strictly electric as part of a lineup reshuffle that also includes discontinuing the A1 supermini and Q2 subcompact crossover. Thankfully, enthusiasts won’t be neglected either. The new RS5 will be followed shortly by its bigger brother, the RS6.
Before the super wagon is ready for the limelight, Audi is putting the finishing touches on camouflaged prototypes. CarSpyMedia recently caught the next-generation RS6 Avant at the Nürburgring during last-minute testing, but it didn’t end well. At one point during the high-speed run, the driver lost control and slammed into the tire wall, causing minor damage to the work-in-progress vehicle.
While the minor impact took its toll on the bodywork, the RS6 was able to continue its run, albeit it basically crawled its way off the track. The incident fuels the long-running controversy over how prone Audis are to understeer, and making the next-generation model even heavier certainly won’t help. How heavy? Well, switching to a plug-in hybrid setup is bound to bring a significant weight penalty.
For reference, the new RS5 Avant tips the scales at 5,225 pounds (2,370 kilograms), but the RS6 will be larger. The jury is still out on which engine it’ll have. Although an educated guess suggests another V8 to honor the tradition, the prototype sounds suspiciously like it has the same V6 engine as the RS5 models.
It certainly lacks the audible drama of a V8, though with Europe’s ever-tightening regulations, we can’t say we’re surprised. Assuming Audi is demoting the RS6 to a six-cylinder engine, we can at least expect a power boost over its smaller brother, which pumps out a combined 630 hp and 608 lb-ft (825 Nm) of torque. On its own, the twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6 is good for 503 hp and 442 lb-ft (600 Nm).
Audi won’t be doing another RS7 Sportback, but it will bring back a fan favorite: the RS6 Sedan. Expect both body styles to break cover later this year and take on the BMW M5 Touring and Sedan, which are also plug-in hybrids, but with two extra cylinders. Mercedes-AMG currently doesn’t have an E63, but the performance division has committed long-term to V8 engines.
Motor1’s Take: Although the new RS6 will inevitably be heavy due to the plug-in hybrid powertrain, we’re still glad Audi remains committed to another generation of its long-running RS model. The harsh reality of 2026 is that electrification is a necessary evil to meet emissions regulations, but we’ll be disappointed if the V8 is really gone.
If BMW somehow made it work and kept the V8 for the M5, anything less from Audi Sport will instantly reduce the RS6’s chances of success. Sharing the same engine as the smaller, lighter, and cheaper RS5 will likely convince some customers that upgrading to the RS6 isn’t worth it.
Source:
CarSpyMedia / YouTube
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