Audi May Bring RS Avant Models To The U.S. But It’s A Reach

TopSpeed

By Jonathan Lopez

Published Mar 30, 2018

Pretty please?

Who doesn’t love a fast wagon? We’re certainly pretty big fans, and we can’t help but dribble a bit when considering the prospect of getting into something like Audi’s line of RS Avants. Now, it looks like the Four-Ring brand is actually considering bringing these quick-’n-practical machines stateside. Maybe. Hopefully? All told, the brand isn’t ruling it out - we’ll take it.

Continue reading for the full story.

The Full Story

Audi just revealed the RS 5 Sportback at the 2018 New York Auto Show, and while it’s definitely impressive, with its sharp four-door coupe good looks, opulence-drenched interior spec, and twin-turbo 2.9-liter V-6 powerplant, we can’t help but pine over Audi’s full-fledged RS Avant models, like the RS 6 pictured above. Luckily, it looks like Audi might actually consider it.

The good news comes courtesy of Motor Trend, which spoke to vice president of product management for Audi of America, Filip Brabec.

“We always look at potential new opportunities in the market. It’s a niche to explore,” Brabec said. “We keep holding discussions. Keep writing us letters.”

Of course, these days, if you want a fast Audi with extra space in back, the Sportback models provide thanks to their five-door liftback body style and high-performance engine packages. For example, the recently released RS 5 Sportback makes upwards of 444 horsepower thanks to that previously mentioned boosted six-cylinder, which is enough to send it to 60 mph in less than 4 seconds.

That ain’t bad, but at the same time, it ain’t no wagon.

Overseas, buyers get to enjoy superstars like the RS 6, which offers a thumping 4.0-liter V-8 under the hood to produce upwards of 600 ponies in its latest outfit, sprinting to 60 mph in the high-3-second range. It’s also enormous inside, with oodles of space to pack in the gear. Throw in quattro AWD grip and a sumptuous Audi interior spec, and call us smitten.

All drooling aside, the RS Avant line makes sense across the pond, but on these crossover-dominated shores, fast wagons occupy a weird space dominated by auto journalists and enthusiasts. After all, Audi is looking to stay in business, right?

Audi Sport worldwide head Michael Renz agrees, telling Motor Trend “The RS 6 and RS 4 Avants are well accepted in Europe. In the U.S., it might be a different situation.”

He continued, saying “The Sportback is not a weird hatchback. It adds to a sedan, as a beautiful layer on top of that. It’s for sedan buyers who want to be a bit more expressive.”

So then, if Audi did bring the RS Avant to the U.S., who would actually buy it? Well, in Europe, Renz said the Sportback is more about “image” than the Avant, geared towards “young families who are looking for a sporty, fashion-oriented car with functionality that they can put the kids in. The Avant customer is a little bit older, more entrepreneurial.”

Unfortunately, both target demographics sound like they would end buying a crossover in the U.S. This is why we can’t have nice things.

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