By Gabriel Vega
–
February 05, 2024
Audi RS 6 Avant GT Unveiled As A Limited Motorsports Thro...
Unveiled towards the tail end of 2020, the Audi RS 6 GTO Concept depicted a fourth-gen Avant that's been completely let off its leash. It sported exuberant bodywork with widened fenders, an extended front splitter, and a massive rear diffuser. While the carmaker mainly built it to mark 40 years of Quattro, it simultaneously hinted at what our inner child might want its high-powered wagon to look like.
While the GTO has slipped to the back of our collective consciousness, Audi certainly didn't forget about it. Instead, it entered it into production as the Audi RS 6 Avant GT. Like the concept that inspired it, the GT benefits from restyled bumpers, new wheels, carbon panels, and a more powerful version of the standard model's 4.0-liter V8. However, Audi partially assembles the GT by hand, unlike the base car, ensuring only a few hundred will ever be produced.
That's 660 in total, to be exact, or 85 for the U.S. market and 7 for Canada. Although partially dictated by production constraints, its limited nature serves Audi's greater vision of the GT being a collector's item. That's a real bummer, considering that it's likely the most exciting RS 6, at least from a visual perspective, the brand has ever made.
While the GT's unique front and rear bumpers stand out first, it also gets a new hood and fenders. Those last two feature new air outlets and a carbon fiber construction. Up top, the standard RS 6's roof rails disappear, as does its subtle hatch-mounted spoiler, which is replaced by a more aggressive double wing. Unfortunately, one element of the GTO that didn't make it into production was its aero-disc wheels, replaced by the GT's 22-inch forged six-spoke set. Audi plans to offer these in three colors: gloss white, gloss black, and a matte and gloss black combo.
Physical changes aside, the most striking element of the GT's exterior is its motorsports-inspired livery. Both the color scheme and the positioning of its decals align with those of the IMSA GTO race car featured above. The GT shown alongside the historic racer wears an Arkona White base color adorned with black, gray, and red decals in line with Audi Sport's branding. A second set of black and gray decals is available but can only be paired with Nardo Grey or Mythos Black paint. Should you want to skip the stickers altogether, Audi plans to offer the GT in Chronos Gray Metallic and Madeira Brown Metallic.
Inside, every GT will come standard with Audi's RS Design Package Plus, meaning all 660 cars will sport a black leather and Dinamica interior with red and copper accents. The cabin blends these materials with a sporty but tasteful implementation of accent stitching and unique GT badging. However, the cabin's centerpieces are, without question, this RS 6's carbon bucket seats. A first for any RS product, they feature pass-through holes should you want to add a harness and more aggressive side bolsters.
The GT draws power from the same twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 as the standard RS 6, but its output increases to 630 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque. Coupled with a 33-pound weight reduction, achieved primarily through carbon fiber body panels, the GT's curb weight drops to 4,574 pounds.
While Audi's latest special edition may not seem all that different from a performance standpoint, it sprints to 62 mph in 3.3 seconds, or 0.3 seconds quicker than a standard RS 6, topping out at 190 mph. This is because the GT also swaps out the Avant's standard air shocks system in favor of an adjustable coilover suspension system. With three-way adjustable shocks and higher spring rates, the GT not only sits 0.4 inches closer to the ground, but its firmer setup also aims to reduce unwanted body motions and improve its overall driving experience.
As stated earlier, Audi plans to build just 660 GTs, with just 85 coming to the U.S. market. And while the German carmaker has yet to reveal how much it'll cost once it crosses the Atlantic, it did state that it'll go on sale in Germany with an estimated starting price of €219,000 or $235,264 using current exchange rates. Expect the RS 6's latest special edition to go on sale for the 2025 model year.
