ROAD CAR TESTS
The family car goes nuclear
Another hot Audi, a new gimmicky name, but can the RS6 Performance actually live up to its moniker? By Andrew Frankel
Fast Audis have never lacked in looks, but this new RS6 adds a superb drive into the mix
Iwonder how many thousands of key strokes I have expended being critical of fast Audis in print over the years? Thousands? Millions more likely. I reckon it started a little over 30 years ago, when the company replaced the original quattro with the S2 Coupé. And I didn’t need to review that to know it wasn’t very good: my father bought one to replace a 911 so I already knew.
Then came the first of the RS Audis, the 1994 RS2. Gorgeous to look at, sit in and listen to. But the drive failed to live up to such promise. And that was just the start. Of all those that followed, the only fast family Audi I recall with any genuine affection was the ‘B7’ RS4 Avant built between 2006-08 thanks to the fabulous pairing of its screaming naturally aspirated V8 motor and a Getrag six-speed manual gearbox.