Spied: Audi's new 550bhp RS6

[Pebb]

Source: AutoCar

The RS4 is only a year old, but Audi is already working on the next car to wear the RS badge. Our spy photographers have recent caught a prototype RS6 saloon being tested on the Nurburgring in Germany, heavily disguised in camouflage paintwork to break up the cars’ outline, and it could be on the market next year.

This new super saloon will use Audi’s version of the Lamborghini V10 found in the Gallardo. Audi’s S8 and S6 models already feature this engine, which at 5.2-litres is 200cc bigger than the Lambo unit, and has direct injection.

The RS6, however, will need to better the S6’s 429bhp and 398lb ft, and Audi engineers are rumoured to be working on a twin-turbocharged version of the engine that could increase power to over 500bhp, and could also feature in the range-topping R8 supercar. This would be necessary for the car to compete with the 500bhp BMW M5.

We’re not likely to see the RS6 until the middle of next year at the earliest. As a rule of thumb, Audi normally only ever has one RS-badged model in its range at any given moment, so this one won’t be available until the RS4 ends production. That’s likely to happen in Spring of next year when the all-new A4, to be unveiled at the Frankfurt motor show in September, goes into production.

 

[YSSMAN]

Question: If they want 500 BHP, wouldn't it be better (and more cost-effective) to just drop in the Lamborghini-sourced model? Granted, forced-induction is great and all, but I personally would rather go with raw, unaided power...

 

[TheCracker]

The Audi and Lambo V10's are actually quite different inside. Apparently all Audi's engines share certain internals right across the line-up - it makes production simpler that way. I guess they could import the Lambo engines complete from Italy - but that's only going to make things more expensive and Lambo probably won't have the capacity anyhow.

That's not quite what you're getting, though. Audi describes the 5.2-litre V10 as a 'derivative' of the Lamborghini's V10, and in fact the 5.2 shares very few components with the 5-litre Lamborghini unit, the only significant shared parts being the drivetrain for the four camshafts. The reason is that the Audi V10s are built at the same factory as every other Audi engine, which, for economies of scale, has been configured to produce engines with a common 90mm bore spacing. The bore spacing of the Gallardo engine is 88mm. This is how the Audi V10 ends up with a different cylinder block, a new crankshaft, different pistons and new camshafts, while the more restricted engine bay, plus Audi's desire to give the engine its FSI direct injection, result in bespoke induction and exhaust systems and a new sump.

 

[JCE]

Mmmmm and you thought the RS4 was sexy. I can't wait for some high res pics of the RS6.

 

[Tornado]

To quote the phrase I completely made up:
"There is no replacement for displacement, but turbochargers get better fuel mileage and torque-to-bhp curves."
Anyways, I'm glad Audi will use turbocharging as it will get the power out of the engine easier than putting the Lambo mill in would.

@ The Cracker: Does that mean that the Audi V10 literally is a 4.2L V8 with a couple of extra cylinders, and the Gallardo engine is not?

 

[TheCracker]

@ The Cracker: Does that mean that the Audi V10 literally is a 4.2L V8 with a couple of extra cylinders, and the Gallardo engine is not?

It would certainly seem that the Audi V10 and Gallardo V10 are only very loosely related. It can't do Audi any halm at all to have people think that their flagship models have Lamborghini engines can it?

 

[Tommi]

I love the look of the latest version of the A6 and cannot wait for another RS6 and as with all Audi RS's i cannot wait to see the finished product, hear and see the spec list of this car:tup:, i just hope there is an Avant on the way

 

[Philly]

Looks like this will be one mean car. Stick a few cool things in there and this car will easily take the "best super-sedan" throne from the M5, at least in my book.

 

[Holdenhsvgtsr]

picture looks rather tame,5.2 litre twin turbo v10.....wonder if its the petrol version of veedubs v10 tdi.