Audi RS6 or Mercedes-AMG E63S?

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This is the Audi RS6 Avant, and it’s a VERY special car. This is the first time Audi have brought the full potency high performance wagon to North American shores. So now, for the first time, the AMG E63 wagon has a proper competitor

There have been other high performance wagons cropping up here and there in the past like the CTS-V,

So this RS6 is here to make the Merc Quake

And the Merc should take notice because under the skin we have the same 4 liter twin turbo v8 that we had in the RSQ8 the other week. We have the same ZF 8 speed gearbox, we’ve got Audi’s performance differential, AND we have a trunk the same size as the RSQ8 as well

I know the 4 liter AMG V8 is in a lot of very impressive cars within Mercedes own lineup, but the V8 under the hood of this Audi can be found in things like range topping Panameras, Cayennes, and even a Lamborghini

The VAG 4.0TTV8 here is tuned for 590 hp and the same number in torque, and with launch control activated you’ll jump to 60 closer to 3 seconds than 4 seconds. And it’s going to make some pretty awesome V8 sounds while it does it

So, power

This V8 we’re VERY familiar with and it’s a great engine I mean almost 600 hp and the same number in torque is nothing to sniff at

There’s a good amount of drama, but if I had any 1 complaint it’s that this cabin is so refined and luxurious that it almost dials out some of the crazy from the experience

And that’s kind of the personality of this RS6 versus the E63. The E63 gets louder and stiffer and more insane, but it doesn’t settle down and become a normal luxury car in the same way that this RS6 can

But this ZF transmission here gives you a lot of the same things

BRRRAAAPPPS on up shift

Burbles on downshift

I mean you’re not going to get tired of it!

However, switched back into comfort mode this ZF feels smoother and less jarring when you’re trying to putter around a downtown area or something

And then there’s the handling. Here we have a big V8 up front going to all 4 wheels in typical Audi Sport Quattro fashion. The confidence is high, the traction is unwavering, but there’s one big surprise here

And it’s the fact that a 600 hp super wagon is Audi’s best handler..aside from the soon to be deceased R8!

The front end is sharp, it’s got the least understeer of an Audi i’ve ever driven

The suspension firms right up in dynamic and RS modes

And in RS2 mode stability is decreased to the point where you can really start to corner with the throttle

You can tell at it’s core it doesn’t really WANT to go sideways in the same way the BMWs or Mercs do, but iut’s such a honey behind the wheel

I mean the best compliment I can give it is what I just said, the only car that handles better than this RS6 in Audi’s own stacked lineup is a midengined V10 supercar….that’s saying something

The cabin design is going to feel very familiar to other Audis we’ve covered and that’s kind of the point
It’s familiar, it’s easy to use, and it’s a reminder of the way Audi can split the personality so well here
You do get flashy RS things like these sport bucket seats
With the red stitching
And the steering wheel with the RS badge at the bottom and the RS mode button
You’ve got an RS1 and RS2 mode and RS2 removes a lot of the nannies so it’s just you and the car
And the rear seats are bucketized and RS red stitched to match the front
And of course you get a couple RS-specific screens for temps, pressures, and telemetry
But other than that it’ pretty typical quality Audi interior
You get a nice big HUD
You get Audi’s excellent Virtual Cockpit
You get the typical Audi MMI system with wireless ACP and AA
And you get an auxiliary screen below for climate controls and a couple other things
You’ve got great 360 cameras with the augmented reality thing
Your seats are heated and cooled
Your steering wheel is heated
And you look up and see a sunroof for the front passengers and a sunroof for the rear
Then speaking of the rear seats they’re big and comfortable even for 6 foot humans
You’ve got window shades back there
You’ve got the same red RS stitching back there
You’ve got heated seats back there
You’ve got your own climate controls and vents
And you’ve even got light up seat belt buckles!
And then finally, the trunk
It’s about the same size as the RSQ8 we drove last month making it hugely practical
It’s got lights back there and the rear seats fold 40/20/40 to make the space even bigger