The last of its kind: On the road in the limited edition Audi RS6 Avant GT

With the RS6 Avant GT, Audi is launching a collector's model that elevates the brand's overall emotional appeal. ntv.de has extensively tested the practical racer. Ultimately, the big question remains: What comes next?

Audi is actually in a rather sad state right now. Not because its products are bad—quite the opposite. And certainly not because the RS6 GT discussed here is boring. But with the end of the limited-edition RS6 GT, the question remains as to how the brand wants to position itself in the future, as the model range is set to become completely electric for a time. But more on that later; first, let's talk about the RS6 GT.

In the presence of the Nardo Gray racer station wagon, it's hard to suppress a grin before you've even climbed in. This isn't so much due to the distinctive roof spoiler, the eye-catching air intakes in the fender area below the A-pillar, or the 22-inch wheels designed specifically for the GT. Rather, it's because you know: Only 660 examples of this special RS6 will be built.

And with this knowledge, you can enjoy it even more intensely when the bassy, rumbling four-liter eight-cylinder engine kicks into gear. And then the first surprise comes after just a few meters. Instead of the rock-hard station wagon that makes you the star of the Nordschleife, the Ingolstadt-based car is a well-behaved tourer with strikingly smooth tuning. As a precaution, the engineers have equipped the station wagon with coilover suspension, allowing ambitious drivers to choose their preferred setup.

And, of course, the special model is also designed to excel in lateral performance. To achieve this, it's not only been given fine-tuning to the chassis components, but also to the rear axle differential, which, in conjunction with the precise power steering, makes it even faster through bends.

However, the average driver is unlikely to take advantage of this. What's important, however, is that the feel-good factor in the express station wagon remains high, even at high speeds. Fundamentally, the powerful Quattro remains a kind of super tourer, where almost absurd performance meets high ride comfort. Even though the microfiber-padded seats with their pronounced bolsters and powerful lateral support clearly belong to the sports seat category, the furniture is suitable for a relaxed glide from one European hotspot to the next.

Limited RS6 damn suitable for everyday use

But can a limited-edition Audi RS6 GT also be a long-distance cruiser? It certainly has all the capabilities for it. Just make sure you have the right budget, because you won't find anything under €220,000 – assuming Audi can still offer a mint-condition example. And so, it's hardly a shock to potential customers when more than 20 liters of premium gasoline flow through the lines while savoring the performance. More than on winding country roads, the 2.1-tonner is in its element on the merging lane of an unlimited highway. That's when it can fully exploit its acceleration potential. According to the manufacturer, it takes a mere 11.5 seconds for the 630 hp baritone (850 Newton meters of torque) to hammer the monster with the rings from 0 to 200 km/h.

And that's essentially what makes it so desirable: a finely balanced eight-cylinder station wagon with massive overtaking potential, which doesn't shy away from top speeds. Because only at 305 km/h (189 mph) does the speed limiter kick in and put a stop to the propulsion. And if you're not exactly on a mission to reach top speed, you can even do a big shopping trip in this Audi collector's item. With the rear seats folded down, the compartment can accommodate the equivalent of almost 1,700 liters of luggage. Even passengers in the second row have plenty of space, as there's no shortage of legroom in the basic A6 Avant body.

So, what ultimately speaks for an RS6 Avant GT? The compelling combination of collector vibes and maximum utility, certainly. And a touch of tradition. Because, unlike the other RS6 models, the GT was built at the famous Böllinger Höfe production facility—where the coveted R8 supercars and, most recently, the E-Tron GT were also born.

And what's disappointing? That the RS6 GT has exactly the same performance as the RS6 Performance model—a differentiation would have been nice, at least somewhat, even if that's all rather academic. Speaking of the R8: It's kind of sad that it's no longer available. A successor? Currently unclear. Regarding the availability of the RS6 GT, the relevant online marketplaces are quite full. Prices have settled somewhere around the €250,000 mark.

And finally, some very good news. Word is already out that the future RS6 will once again be available with an eight-cylinder engine – but no longer without electrification. And so the RS6 Avant GT is, in a way, the last of its kind. This leaves Audi with the problem of infusing its future model range with emotional appeal. Whether it will succeed remains the key question. But with the Ingolstadt-based company under pressure, there may yet be a surprising shift in sports car policy. And fans may well be able to look forward to the revival of the TT. This time, however, likely in purely electric form. Whether they will embrace the transformation so quickly remains to be seen.