Highlights from the Sun’s Ken Gibson’s review of the RS6 Avant due to launch in our showrooms around May.

By KEN GIBSON
Motoring Editor

Published: 31 Jan 2008

“THUNDER bolt and lightning, very, very frightening indeed. “

And that’s exactly how I felt after a day behind the wheel of the world’s most powerful estate car, the RS6 Avant.

Actually it was a toss-up between very frightening and absolutely bloody fantastic, especially when I took the RS6 around a French racing circuit at speeds that should have seen me stuffed into a crash barrier.

You don’t normally associate estate cars with race tracks, but then again there is nothing normal about the 580 bhp RS6. This, as my photographer Jezza said, is one mental car.

White lightning … 580bhp will do the job!

The acceleration figures of 0-62 mph in 4.6 seconds and a top speed of 175mph don’t get close to telling you how frighteningly fast the RS6 feels.

The acceleration, using either the super quick auto gear change or the F1 steering wheel paddles, is simply electric.

And then you have an Aladdin’s cave of Audi racing technology, including the latest version of the legendary Quattro all-wheel drive. It keeps the RS6 planted on the road in a spookily controlled way, in any weather conditions.

Oh yes, and the brakes are also outstanding, which is reassuring considering the speeds you’ll be doing.

In reality the RS6 is an estate car that is actually a fully fledged supercar complete with a monster 5litre V10 twin turbo charged engine, especially for owners with a practical side.

Because unlike the rest of the supercar elite, there’s room for five people — and Ikea wardrobes will never move so quick.

Ironically, if you can resist the temptation to bury the accelerator, the RS6 has a surprisingly civilised side to its character. Switch the car’s suspension system from dynamic or sport to comfort and you can travel in the lap of luxury.

For the full write up click here and contact us for more information about the RS6 Avant