The all-new Audi RS6 sedan is great and we already know pretty much everything there is to know about it. The new RS6 Avant, on the other hand, remained a relative mystery since details of it first leaked. As time went on, our patience wore thin and we managed to dig up some information on it to wet our hot-hatch whistle a little.

Now that we have pretty much found out all of the important details and even found some rather official-looking leaked images, Audi->ke14 has lifted the veil and released the RS6 Avant’s->ke1305 details. We didn’t expect to see the RS6 Avant’s information until the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, so we are wondering if Audi released this information willingly or if its hand was pushed by the automotive industry’s prying eyes.

Sure, we’ll go ahead and take some credit for this early information release.

Updated 12/11/2012: Audi has released a trailer video for its new RS6 Avant. The video shows the new sports wagon in action on the road and offers an idea on how the engine under the hood sounds like. Enjoy! Oh, and what a glorious sound it is. Enjoy!

Updated 08/09/2013: Audi unveiled a new commercial video for its RS6 Avant. The idea behind the commercial is that with every RS6 Avant you will also have parts from the R18 Le Mans Prototype racecar.

Click past the jump to read all of the intimate details on the 2013 Audi RS6.

2013 Audi RS6 Avant

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2013 Audi RS6 Avant
  • Engine/Motor: TFSI bi-turbo V8
  • Horsepower: 500-580
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

The new RS6 Avant brings no major surprises on the outside, as every detail has been previewed by the sedan version. The RS6’s body is now made of 20-percent aluminum and features numerous components made from high-strength steel. As a result, the new Avant version is 220 pounds lighter than its predecessor, which helps it deliver improved power-to-weight ratio.

The model is distinguished by the usual RS elements: numerous matte aluminum applications on the body and high-gloss paint applied to the protective grille, bumpers, fender, sill flares and the roof spoiler. At the rear, the car receives two large, elliptical exhaust tailpipes. The RS6 Avant sits on a set of 20-inch forged wheels in a seven twin-spoke design. As an option, customers can also get 21-inch wheels offered in three versions: high-gloss silver, polished black and polished-titanium look.

The car can be further customized with a Matte Aluminum package, which includes Quattro badges on the central front air inlet. A Carbon package, which adds the front splitter and the diffuser in carbon fiber, is also available.

The 2013 RS6 Avant can be ordered in nine exterior colors, including an exclusive Daytona Gray matte.

Interior

Just like the sedan version, the RS6 Avant’s interior has been designed with the driver in mind. The cockpit features a very elegant combination of black, white and red. An “RS” logo has been placed on the key, steering wheel, entry sills, tachometer and the displays for the MMI.

Aluminum is used for the footrest, pedals and switches in the MMI navigation, while the decorative bezel surrounding the retractable monitor features a piano finish. As standard, the RS6 Avant is offered with carbon-fiber inlays, but as an option the company is also offering six additional materials. These elements can be combined with a standard black headliner or one of two optional headliners: Moon Silver or black Alcantara.

The RS sports seats are offered in a standard combination of black Alcantara and leather, but high-grade, honeycomb-quilted Valcona leather in either black or Moon Silver is also available as an option.

Standard equipment:

-Xenon plus headlights,

-LED rear lights,

-Tire-pressure control system,

-Illuminated entry sills

-Custom driver-information system

-Parking system plus

-Cruise control

-Three-zone automatic air conditioning

-MMI navigation plus with MMI touch

-10-speaker Audi sound system

Optional equipment:

-LED headlights with a unique design

-Ceramic brakes front and rear

-Sport differential on the rear axle

-Sport suspension plus with Dynamic Ride Control (DRC).

Engine

Under the hood, the RS6 Avant will drop its usual V-10 engine in favor of a new twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter TFSI V-8 engine that delivers a total of 560 horsepower between 5,700 and 6,700 rpm, and 516.29 pound-feet of torque between 1,750 and 5,500 rpm. This engine is equipped with two large twin-scroll turbochargers and an additional intercooler inside the cylinder-bank valley – pretty creative use of space.

With the new engine the RS6 Avant will sprint from 0 to 62 mph in just 3.9 seconds and up to an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph. However, when the car is equipped with the optional Dynamic Plus package, it can go up to a sphincter-clinching 189 mph. The engine is equipped with a standard start-stop system and innovative thermal management. These additional features drop fuel consumption by 40 percent, bringing the RS6 Avant up to 24 mpg.

The engine is mated to an eight-speed Tiptronic transmission with “D” and “S” modes. The RS6 is also equipped with Audi’s Quattro permanent all-wheel-drive system with torque vectoring.

Engine and Driveline Specs:

Engine Twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8
Engine Output 560 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque
Transmission Eight-speed Tiptronic
Drive Quattro AWD
Acceleration (0-62 mph) 3.9 seconds
Top Speed 155 mph (standard) / 189 mpg (with Dynamic Plus package)
Fuel Economy 24 mpg


Suspensions and brakes

The RS6 Avant comes with an adaptive air suspension system that lowers the car’s ride by 0.79 inches. As an option, Audi also offers a tauter sport suspension plus with Dynamic Ride Control. Also included is dynamic steering, which features infinitely variable steering boost and ratios.

A high-performance brake system that includes four internally vented discs comes standard. The front discs measure 15.35 inches and are squeezed by black-painted, six-piston calipers. As an option, Audi is provides carbon-fiber-ceramic brake discs measuring 16.54 inches in diameter paired with calipers painted anthracite gray.

Prices

The new Audi RS6 Avant will be put on sale early in 2013. In the British market the model is price at £77,000 - about $124,000 at the current exchange rates. There is no mention of the U.S. market and we doubt that it will ever see the light of day on this side of the pond.

Competition

With the new engine and the new look, the Audi RS6 Avant put a little more pressure on higher-performance station wagon models. In the European market it has to face models like the BMW M5->ke2922 and the Mercedes E63 AMG, while the American customers – if the RS6 Avant makes it here – have the option of the Cadillac CTS-V Wagon. It is powered by the same 6.2 liter supercharged V-8 engine that delivers a total of 556 horsepower and 551 pound-feet of torque, and is priced at $62,990 -- making it one of the most affordable sports wagons on the market.