Audi has lifted the veil on what has to be one of the best (and most aggressive) looking wagons ever made: the 2020 Audi RS6 Avant. On top of that, it’s also going to cross the Pond into the U.S. market, despite the fact that wagons have not been enjoying as much popularity in the States as some say they deserve.

Now, this has to be a very pleasant surprise for the handful of American performance wagon fans who, I’m certain, are, as you are reading this, ecstatically running around, arms flailing in the air. The 2020 RS6 Avant is not just a handsome wagon; it looks like it crashed into a Lamborghini body shop and what came out the other side is a very happy mix of the two. I mean sure, it looks like it wants to eat your children, but you’d happily do it knowing you are appeasing the gods of fire and flared wheel arches.

What makes the 2020 Audi RS6 Avant so special?

Well, for American car fans, the fact that ita new (and unexpected) German performance wagon that’s going on sale in the U.S., is reason enough to call it special.

Audi’s official Instagram account was populated with side shots of all the different RS4 and RS6 wagon models that never made it into the U.S., all with captions stating said model was never sold in America. The automaker was building the hype for the announcement that the 2020 RS6 Avant was going to be the first of its kind to make it to the United States.

And if you read the comments on the Instagram post announcing it, you’ll understand why this is a big deal. One user said “I will be a customer. This is a dream come true,” while another said “*insert fainting gif here*” and these pretty much set the tone for most of the others. People are really excited about the prospect of getting an RS wagon in the states - now if this will actually translate into good sales remains to be seen; what’s clear is the enthusiasm is definitely there.

But there’s obviously more to it than that, because the new RS6 Avant is more than just an idea; it’s an actual car, and a very handsome and capable one too.

First, we must mention the way it looks. It is probably the most extreme looking wagon in the world right now. Its fascia is dominated by the usual big Audi grille (with a unique honeycomb structure that’s only available on the RS6), but also the unique RS6 bumper that accentuates the car’s extra width. As with all previous RS6 models, this latest one has big fender flares (that increase width by 40 millimeters or 1.6 inches) needed in order to accommodate the car’s wider track and wheels.

The big 21-inch five-spoke rims also help it really stand out, but the optional 22-inch rims (shown in the first batch of official photos) are positively head-turning.

Audi interiors are some of the best in the business and the German automaker has really pulled out all the stops to make being aboard the RS6 Avant a really special experience. It’s the usual A6 interior, but it has unique matte brushed dark aluminum inlays, a flat-bottom steering wheel clad in fancy-looking perforated leather, a bright red quattro logo above the glove box and RS-specific graphics for the fully-digital gauge cluster.

What powers the 2020 Audi RS6 Avant?

The unit is also helped in the quest to achieve better efficiency by a 48-volt mild hybrid system, as well as cylinder deactivation - no official efficiency numbers have been published, but Audi says between the mild hybrid tech (that allows the car’s start-stop system to operate at up to 13 mph) the car saves around 0.8 l/100km.

The force-fed V-8's colossal oomph is channeled through an eight-speed automatic gearbox with RS-specific tuning and it is sent to all four wheels through Audi’s famed quattro all-wheel drive. Under normal driving conditions, the power split is 40:60, but if need be, it can divert as much as 70 percent of the power to the front axle or as much as 85 percent of the power to the rear axle.

Audi says the 2020 RS6 Avant sprints to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 3.6 seconds and to 124 mph (200 km/h) in 12 seconds; its top speed is electronically governed at 155 mph (250 km/h), but if left unrestricted, it would probably top out at around 186 mph (300 km/h) or a bit more.

2020 Audi RS6 Avant specifications

What other go-faster bits does the 2020 Audi RS6 Avant have?

The RS6 wagon comes with 20 millimeters (0.8 inches) lower suspension compared to the regular A6. It has air suspension as standard and this lowers the car by another 10 millimeters (0.4 inches) at over 74 mph (120 km/h) in order to improve stability and lower drag.

There’s also an optional suspension setup that does away with the air springs and replaces them with a conventional steel spring and variable single tube damper combo. Now while it may sound like it’s not as advanced as the air suspension setup, Audi says this optional setup noticeably reduces pitch and roll.

Both measure the same 400 millimeters in diameter, but the optional disks help shed 34 kilograms or 75 pounds of (unsprung) weight.

Inside the car, the driver can select between two individually configurable RS modes (RS1 and RS2) via a dedicated “RS Mode” button on the steering wheel (these are extra modes on top of the usual comfort, auto, dynamic and efficiency modes). Audi says that RS2 mode “mode exists specifically to influence the Electronic Stabilisation Control (ESC) directly at the push of a button.” The automaker is also keen to mention the car’s traction and stability aids can be completely switched off.

What other wagons does Audi sell in North America right now?

Audi currently only sells the A4 Allroad on the North American market (the U.S. and Canada), and despite the fact that it has a higher starting price than the Q5 crossover ($45,700 versus $42,950), as well as the fact that high-riding SUVs are the surging in popularity, it’s still one of the brand’s best Stateside sellers. The model is essentially a raised version of the regular A4 Avant with some SUV-esque bits of cladding around the lower part of the car.

There’s good reason to believe Audi might also start selling the larger A6 Allroad, a decision undeniably based on the surprisingly high popularity of the A4 Allroad. At the moment, it’s only been announced for the Canadian market, but it would be fair to assume that Audi is at least considering bringing it to the States. I mean bringing the RS6 Avant Stateside is more of a gamble than trying to sell an Allroad model, so I’d say there’s a good chance you’ll see the A6 Allroad in the U.S. in 2020.

How much will the 2020 Audi RS6 Avant cost?

Right now, we don’t know and we have little information to go by. All the official press blurb says is “the highly anticipated Audi RS 6 Avant will arrive in the U.S. in 2020 and will be available for customer orders, subject to a later announcement.” In Europe, the old RS6 Avant was priced from €116,000, so this new one, once it hits U.S. showrooms could cost upward of $140,000, maybe closer to $160,000.

Further reading

Read our full review on the 2020 Audi RS6 Avant.

Read our full review on the 2016 Audi RS6 Avant Performance.

Read our full review on the 2020 Audi A4 Allroad.