Slideshow: Thunder Wagon: 2014 ABT RS6-R
Apparently, 553 horsepower just wasn't cutting it in this Audi RS6 Avant wagon, so German specialty tuner ABT Sportsline stepped in to turn up the wick.
The Euro Wagon
The C7 Audi RS6 Avant was introduced to the public at the Detroit Auto Show back in 2013. The idea was to allow the car enthusiast with a family to regularly drive a car that has the practicality and luxury of a daily driver, yet has been hopped-up with various engine, suspension, body, and brake components from the factory to scratch that high-performance itch. The RS6 Avant was lauded as a sleeper wagon with supercar performance that any car aficionado would be proud to have in their garage. Unfortunately, the power wagon was limited to overseas markets and never sold in the USA because Americans apparently hate wagons...
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Room for Improvement
The RS6 featured a vicious twin-turbo 4.0L V8 that produced a whopping 553 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque sent through all four wheels. It could make sprints to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds, run the 1/4 mile in 12 seconds flat, and muscle its way to a top speed of 190 mph (dependent on the speed governor option selected during production) all while comfortably seating 5 and achieving a combined 24 mpg. For the engineers at ABT Sportsline, which is well known for pumping up VAG cars as well as successfully having a hand in Audi's DTM racing, the RS6 clearly needed a performance and visual makeover.
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An RS6 on Steroids
As soon as the RS6 Avant was released, the ABT team went to work. Reports say that the development process to upgrade the RS6 lasted nearly 2 years, but come 2014, their RS6-R was ready to hit the streets. Pumping up an engine to meet strict German regulations is no easy feat, but ABT was able to extract an additional 177 horsepower from the stock powerplant while remaining emissions compliant. This was achieved by installing their ABT "Power Package" which consists of a complete custom stainless steel exhaust system with high-flow sport catalytic converters and their extensive ECU tuning. The result is 730 horsepower and enough torque to rotate the earth (678 lb-ft).
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Harness The Power
When a wagon is making this much horsepower, you want to be sure it sticks to the road. Although the RS6 came standard with air suspension, ABT went the traditional route by installing a set of their tuned adjustable coilovers along with a set of sport anti-roll bars. The massive optioned carbon-ceramic brakes from the factory remain in place, but ABT opted for more rubber on the ground by installing a set of their lightweight Sport DR 22X10" wheels wrapped in 295/25/ZR22 Dunlop tires.
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Moving The Air
The visual upgrades that ABT performs to the car really set it apart from any other RS6 on the road. Starting with the front of the car, an aggressive carbon-fiber splitter and dive planes were fitted to the front fascia to limit the air traveling under the car and provide downforce to the front-end. A set of fender vents move air from the wheel wells while the carbon side skirts with mini winglets further improve aerodynamics. At the rear, small carbon skirt attachments at the bumper match nicely with the side skirts as does an enlarged carbon rear diffuser. All of the carbon-fiber bits, including the side mirrors, are finished in a red clear coat that really pops.
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Subtle Interior Touches
Finally, ABT provided a few finishing touches to the interior to remind you that this car is something special. ABT fitted a new Alcantara steering wheel with integrated shift lights and carbon-fiber shift paddles. The seats also received a small bit of Alcantara treatment along with "ABT" and "RS6-R" deviated embroidery in the head and backrests. To keep the theme consistent, red carbon inserts were installed on the dash, center console, and door panels to match the exterior of the car. An RS6-R badged shift knob and ABT floor mats were placed in lieu of the stock pieces for a bit more flair.
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The Ultimate Power Wagon
ABT Sportsline's Audi RS6-R wagon is a worthy improvement to an already great car. The engine upgrades shave over half of a second off of the 0-60 time, which puts it into elite supercar territory while still being able to haul the groceries home. The suspension and aero upgrades further enhance the handling while also giving the car a sleeker, lower look. In essence, it is the ultimate RS6. ABT was set to produce a limited run of RS6-Rs which was said to be capped at 25 units. The build cost was a sizeable €60,000 on top of the price of a new RS6 Avant, making this a $200,000+ vehicle. Some ask if it is worth the price of admission. Personally, If I lived in Europe and had the extra cash burning a hole in my pocket, I'd be out hooning the B-roads in one...
>>Join the conversation about the ABT RS6-R right here in the AudiWorld Forum!
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