The mighty Audi RS6 Avant which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2022 has reached the very peak of its evolution with the production of the RS 6 Avant GT. The top of the performance food chain so to speak, this strictly limited edition model distills all that has made the RS6 such a resounding success and favourite with RS enthusiasts the world over and delivers it in a striking livery that evokes the proud motorsport history of Audi.

Keen-eyed fans of the brand will notice that the car looks more than a little familiar – and not just because of the colour scheme inspired by the Audi 90 quattro IMSA GTO race car that terrorised the opposition in the late 1980s. 

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of quattro back in 2020, a group of 12 Audi apprentices working across the full field of automotive disciplines worked on a special project with the support of Audi Design called the RS 6 GTO concept. This RS 6 Avant GT represents that special design concept come to life, complete with a fire-breathing 4.0-litre V8 producing 463kW and 850Nm of torque from 2300 to 4500rpm.

It takes just 3.3 seconds to hit 100km/h from a standing start which is 0.3 seconds faster than the ‘standard RS 6 Avant’. It is past the 200km/h mark from rest in just 11.5 seconds which is 0.5 seconds faster than the ‘standard’ RS 6 Avant and has a top speed of 305km/h.

Indeed the very fact that we use the RS 6 Avant as a benchmark speaks volumes about how special this car happens to be.

In addition to the eye-catching colour scheme (there are two decal sets to choose from and five different exterior colours – Arkona White, Nardo Grey, Chronos Grey Metallic, Madeira Brown Metallic, and Mythos Black Metallic), the RS 6 Avant GT rides on massive 22-inch wheels and features carbon-fibre bonnet and fenders, distinctive roof spoiler and redesigned rear diffuser. Also, for the first time in the life of the RS 6 Avant the roof rails have been removed for an even flatter silhouette and for those needing even more prompting that this isn’t your ‘average RS 6 Avant’ special badging puts it b beyond any doubt.

Inside, the black interior features accents in red and copper, with the stitching on the steering wheel, the sides of the centre console, and armrests all featuring this combination. 

Likewise the new RS bucket seats in a leather-Dinamica combination and the ‘RS 6 GT’ lettering below the headrests also feature the distinctive colour scheme. The honeycomb stitching in the centre of the seat shimmers is in Express Red, while that on the outer seam of the bucket seat is finished in copper. 

Decorative inlays are also available in an open-pore carbon twill structure as an option, and the centre console features the car’s exclusive number from the 660 being produced. 

Of course the RS 6 Avant GT is first and foremost a performance giant and to make best use of its tremendous power output, an eight-speed tiptronic gearbox with optimised shift times harnesses the massive output and sends it to all fours wheels. 

The RS 6 Avant GT uses the latest version of the locking centre differential, which distributes engine power to the front and rear axle at ratio of 40:60, but sending up to 70 percent to the front axle and up to 85 percent to the rear axle as required. The reworked centre differential also improves driving dynamics, ensures noticeably more precise cornering, and makes for less understeer at the limit. 

The quattro sport rear differential has also been specially tuned for the RS 6 Avant GT with new parameters focussed on greater agility and rear bias in ‘dynamic’ driving mode. Also, for the first time, adjustable coilover suspension comes as standard on the GT model, lowering the ride by 10mm compared the RS 6 Avant.

A higher spring rate, triple-adjustable dampers, and stiffer stabilisers (30 percent stiffer at the front and 80 percent at the rear) ensure even less body roll. Customers can alternatively order the RS sport suspension plus with Dynamic Ride Control (DRC) or the RS adaptive air suspension. 

Then there’s the new high-performance Continental ‘Sport Contact 7’ 285/30 R22 rubber wrapping those huge 22-inch rims that offer up superior grip in all conditions and, working with the ceramic brakes, deliver extraordinary stopping power. Indeed the braking distance is up to two metres shorter with the new tyres when braking from 100 to 0 km/h.

Like the RS 6 Avant, the GT variant is produced at the Audi facility in Neckarsulm but then goes to the exclusive Böllinger Höfe facility for its final assembly. Here, all of the GT-specific elements are applied by hand by seven experienced technicians at three assembly stations set up especially for this exclusive special edition. Each car spends a full day at the facility while the GT bonnet, fenders, rocker panels, double wing, front and rear aprons and adjustable coilover suspension are all fitted.

Just 660 cars will be produced, ensuring the exclusivity of this extraordinary model which represents the ultimate incarnation of one of the brand’s best.