There once was a time when station wagons were thought of as bland and boxy people movers. They were the furthest things from what you’d consider raunchy performance monsters. Times have changed, though, and while there are still wagons that fall under old stereotypes, models like the Audi RS6 Avant make up a segment of the wagon population that have debunked old labels.

The Audi RS6 Avant is a monster, and when you figure in a tuner like ABT Sportsline, the sporty wagon turns into something far more sinister. This isn’t your grandparent’s station wagon, folks. The Audi RS6 Avant by ABT Sportsline is fast, ferocious, and ready to take your heads off the moment you underestimate its fury.

This thing has loads of power

Mention ABT Sportsline to anybody who knows cars and tuning and you will assuredly receive a response ranging from the excited to the curious.

It’s true. The list of Audi models that have received tuning packages from ABT Sportsline is a list that runs long. This time, the tuner is setting its sights on the 2020 RS6 Avant hot wagon that already boasts a whopping 591 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque coming out of a 4.0-liter turbocharged V-8 engine. Basically, the Audi RS6 Avant is a supercar that’s parading around like a performance wagon. There are no two ways about it.

Audi RS6 Avant specifications

All the same, ABT Sportsline is preparing a series of performance upgrades that will add more power to the aforementioned V-8 engine. The tuner hasn’t divulged the full details of the program, but history suggests that it will revolve around a software upgrade that includes a new engine control unit with more power available than the stock output of the V-8 engine.

Take note: this is just the beginning of ABT Sportsline’s program for the 2020 Audi RS6 Avant. The full package won’t be revealed until April 2020. So, as we wait for the motherlode of details to arrive, wrap your heads around the thought that this new tuning program helps the 4,112-pound performance wagon accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.3 seconds. That's 0.3 seconds faster than the stock RS6 Avant. That, folks, is legit fast.

What else can we expect from this program?

We know that ABT Sportsline is famous for its comprehensive tuning programs. We know this because the tuner has a long catalogue of programs in its records, and almost all of those kits included more than just your typical engine upgrade program. Aerodynamic kits have been made available for a lot of these programs. You can say the same thing suspension upgrades. ABT Sportsline also has a lineup of aftermarket wheels and, of course, let’s not forget about the aluminum pedals, illuminated door sills with the ABT logo on them, and the branded floor mats. No ABT Sportsline program is complete without the floor mats.

The program should come with a front spoiler, more aggressive side skirts, and — let’s hope for this one — a rear spoiler that’s integrated into the stock tailgate spoiler.

Wheel choices are plentiful, too. ABT Sportsline offers wheel sizes ranging from 20 inches to 23 inches, though I suspect the RS6 Avant can only accommodate up to 21-inch wheels unless significant suspension upgrades are provided.

Speaking of which, ABT Sportsline also offers suspension kits that can lower vehicles by as much as a full inch. I’m not saying that the new RS6 Avant program comes with a suspension kit, but don’t be surprised if it does. The big mystery, however, revolves around the possibility that ABT Sportsline could have a more powerful engine upgrade program available. After all, other tuners have been able to coax as much as 800 horsepower out of the RS6 Avant’s turbocharged V-8 engine. There’s no stopping ABT Sportsline from doing the same or even going beyond that.

The German tuner has been known to go above and beyond what’s typical of its programs so don’t be surprised if a few surprises are thrown in for good measure.

Is the Program Worth It?

You better believe it is, and this has less to do with ABT Sportsline’s reputation and more to do with the kind of performance potential you can get out of the Audi RS6 Avant. In stock form, the 591-horsepower RS6 can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds. With ABT’s announced engine upgrade program, you get 100 more horsepower available from the V-8 unit and that translates to a sprint-to-60-mph time of just 3.3 seconds. Top speed is locked at 155 mph in the conventional setup, but you never know what kind of top speed becomes available if you let ABT Sportsline unlock the RS6 Avant’s true potential.

Final Thoughts

I’ve always been a fan of ABT Sportsline’s programs so there’s no reason for me to think that this new aftermarket program it’s developing for the Audi RS6 Avant will be different than any of the past programs it has built. The German tuner isn’t the type to create over-the-top kits that end with engines packing more than 1,000 horsepower.

Everything about ABT Sportsline’s programs is calculated for precision. That’s what makes it one of the best tuners in my book, and for as long as it produces programs that provide healthy gains to Audi's producs, my fandom of ABT Sportsline will remain intact.