2021 Audi RS 6 AvantBrian Harper / Driving MALIBU, Calif. To a casual observer, the view from the second-floor patio of the Surfrider Hotel provides a glimpse of the state of personal mobility in and through Malibu, home to many of Hollywoods elite and featuring some of the most desirable and expensive property in the state. Directly below the patio is the Pacific Coast Highway (better known as the PCH, or more formally, State Route 1), this four-lane stretch of tarmac through the city sees almost as many Porsches as Priuses, with Teslas clearly the wheels of choice for a good percentage of the moneyed locals. The occasional Rolls-Royce glides by, ditto Maseratis, Range Rovers, Volvo SUVs and various models of Mercedes, among far more proletarian product. But not a single Audi RS 6 Avant until today.A rare ride even in Europe, where the ber-sportswagen has achieved iconic status among the performance cognoscenti, the RS 6 Avant will finally reach North American shores in late 2020, a year after it shows up in Europe. Replete with Audis highly regarded Quattro all-wheel drive system, an eight-speed automatic transmission, and a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 with a 48-volt mild hybrid system and 592 politically incorrect horsepower, the sleek yet muscular Avant wears sheet metal no crossover or SUV can out-sexy. A family hauler for the Fast and Furious set? Or, considering the venue, the ultimate surf woodie, minus the wood? Yes and yes! This Avant is the fourth-generation RS 6 for Europe and other markets, but the first generation Canadians will see. And Audi is not skimping on the features, loading up the wagon with all manner of performance and handling technologies, top-level infotainment and connectivity devices, and swaddling the cabin in appropriately tasteful materials and trims. Though Audi will not be limiting production, its cost will ensure exclusivity; pricing wont be finalized for Canada until closer to the cars arrival date, but Mercedes-AMGs 2020 E 63 S wagon the Audis closest rival starts at $120,000. So, judge accordingly.The RS 6 Avant isnt merely a hot rod version of the A6. With the exception of the front doors, roof and tailgate, the RS exterior is made up of RS-specific parts. In addition, the Avant has been widened around 40 millimetres on each side with flared wheel arches, the better to emphasize the meaty P285/30ZR22 Pirelli P-Zero tires and killer wheels. A power dome augments the hood, and the RS 6 adopts the front headlights from the A7 Sportback. Below the lights, side air inlets open on the bumper and extend almost into the lower edge of the headlights, the Avants designers taking their cue from the front end of the R8 sports car. The stylish rear end consists of a roof-edge spoiler and an RS-specific bumper with rear diffuser. In typical RS style, the exhaust system flows into chrome oval tailpipes, or in the case of the optional sport exhaust system highly recommended, by the way black tips.The bright Tango Red tester waiting for us was loaded with all the necessary equipment to scorch the twisting and undulating canyon roads feeding the PCH. RS Sport suspension with Dynamic Ride Control, replacing the standard adaptive air suspension? Check. Dynamic Package Plus, adding four-wheel steering, massive ceramic brakes, and jacks up the wagons top end to a super-illegal 305 km/h? Yep! Customizable drive modes to tailor the car to the road and the driver to the car? Thumbs up! Oh my, the gods of vehicular hooliganism do smile upon this beast. At just under five metres in length, the body style is clearly mid-sized wagon, but the power, acceleration, feel, and grip say five-seat sports car. Understand that some of these canyon roads Mulholland Highway, Stunt Road, and Decker, Latigo, and Malibu Canyons have been the holy grails for SoCal enthusiasts for decades; the RS 6 Avant is as adept at finessing these asphalt jungle gyms as the two Lamborghini Huracans we encountered on our runs. The cars four-wheel steering meant no full-lock heroics were needed on even the tightest decreasing-radius turns. The slightest touch of the brake pedal scrubbed off speed when needed, and the Audis ability to hold the intended line, regardless of speed or change of road direction, had both my co-driver and I swearing in disbelief. Punching the throttle pinned us both back in our seats Audi claims the 2,075-kilogram RS 6 Avant will hit 100 km/h from a standstill in 3.6 seconds honestly, it felt faster.Still, such behaviour is frowned upon by polite society as well as the local constabulary, meaning if you value your drivers licence, the RS 6 is more likely to be used as a grocery getter or for schlepping the kids to soccer practice. Its quite capable of being civil when doing so, but the one concern we discussed while cruising up the PCH in an air suspension-fitted model was that, despite occasional bumps and ripples, California roads are free of the
Origin: First Drive: 2021 Audi RS 6 Avant