Audi has pulled the wraps off its limited edition RS6 Avant GT. With bespoke features and a distinctive, motorsport-inspired colour scheme, the company declares it the ultimate version of its performance estate car.
Only 660 examples of the RS6 GT will be produced, with 60 right-hand-drive cars allocated to UK customers.
Each one carries a hefty price tag of £176,975, or nearly £50,000 more than the current, range-topping RS6 Performance Vorsprung Carbon.
Celebrating an Audi Sport legend
The Audi RS6 GT’s white, black and red livery comes from the 2020 RS6 GTO Concept (parked on the left above) – a project for 12 apprentice engineers and designers. This original one-off was, in turn, a homage to the 1989 Audi 90 Quattro IMSA GTO, one of Ingolstadt’s most iconic race cars.
Built for use in the IMSA GT Championship, the Audi 90 Quattro GTO brought sonorous five-cylinder turbocharged power and all-wheel drive to circuits across the US and Canada.
In the right conditions, the GTO could leave its rivals for dust, although bad luck and poor decisions prevented it from taking title glory at its first attempt.
Despite this, the 90 Quattro IMSA GTO has become part of Audi folklore, leading to today’s wagon-based tribute.
Engineered for agility and fun
The GT’s bodywork mimics the look of the RS6 GTO Concept, with carbon fibre used for the new bonnet, side skirts and widened wheelarches. Its bi-plane rear spoiler is also direct copy of that fitted to the concept car.
Audi has ditched the RS6’s roof rails to aid aerodynamics, and fitted a set of six-spoke 22-inch wheels that are unique to the GT. Carbon ceramic brakes are also standard, as is adjustable coilover suspension (plus a set of tools and instructions on how to make setup changes).
The same twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 as the regular RS6 Performance powers the new GT, serving up 630hp and 627lb ft of torque. This makes for 0-62mph in just 3.3 seconds, with a potential top speed of 190mph.
The car’s rear differential has been tailored for a ‘focus on greater agility’, while Continental Sport Contact 7 tyres are said to reduce understeer at high speeds.
The hand-built performance estate
Although buyers can choose Nardo Grey or Mythos Black paintwork, Arkona White with the contrasting Audi Sport graphics is likely to be the colour combination of choice.
The GT’s interior benefits from carbon fibre-backed bucket seats finished in a combination of leather and Dinamica, with red and copper detailing used throughout the cabin. A numbered plaque is found on the centre console, too.
Audi is accepting orders for the RS6 GT now, with production set to commence in the second quarter of 2024.
Each of the 660 cars will start life at Audi’s Neckarsulm factory, before moving to the Böllinger Höfe site to have the bespoke GT parts fitted by hand.
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