Performance legacy

Last year, Audi Sport celebrated the 20th anniversary of one of its all-time favourite models – the RS 6. This large, luxurious touring car – available at various times as both a Sedan but more often an Avant – effectively changed the very definition of a supercar and has built a loyal following since its earliest days.

And while the RS 6 Avant has never been short of admirers amongst the Audi Sport customer base, it has also long been a favourite at ABT Sportsline, Audi’s long-time motorsport partner. For those who aren’t familiar with ABT and its connection to Audi, ABT Sportsline and Audi have a long and very successful history together in motorsport across numerous categories and ABT is also considered the leading aftermarket tuner for Audi vehicles as well as others from the VW group.

Over the years ABT has not only produced performance and aftermarket parts, but also special model upgrades across numerous Audi models. But while ABT has turned its attention to everything from the Audi S1 right through to the RS Q8 – most recently seen in the mighty ABT RS Q8 Signature Edition – the RS 6 has long resonated with the ABT team.

Even with the wealth of the Audi Sport range to choose from, ABT have continuously come back to the RS 6 Avant, using it as a base for vehicles like the ABT RS6 Johann Abt Signature Edition to mark the company’s 125th anniversary.

Now, in a tribute to the mighty V8 heart of the RS 6 Avant, ABT has produced the RS 6 Legacy Edition – a limited number of 200 cars that take the already extraordinary performance of the Audi RS 6 Avant and take it to another level.

The already enormous power output of the RS 6 has been increased from 463kW to an eye-watering 559kW, while the stump-pulling torque figure of 850Nm has been increased to 980Nm. These numbers have been achieved with the addition of new turbos, new intercooler and Power R software amongst a host of other under bonnet changes. In real terms, the changes result in a 0 to 100km/h time of 3.1 seconds – half a second quicker than the ‘standard’ RS 6 Avant.

External changes abound, with a new bonnet treatment that includes the addition of a prominent air intake, new front splitter and rear diffuser treatment in carbon fibre, new wing mirror towels also finished in carbon fibre as well as side blades, rear rooftop spoiler and side air intakes, all with the carbon fibre treatment. 

Cars are of course all numbered from one to 200 on the door sills as well the dash, while the interior features subtle highlights reflecting its aftermarket pedigree.

It’s a fitting tribute to what is one of Audi Sport’s most popular models, and while ABT suggest that this vehicle represents a nod to the big performance wagon as it nears the ends of its production life, with word of even more potent RS 6 variants still to come from Audi Sport, there’s every likelihood that the ABT RS 6 Legacy Edition will not be the last RS 6 to emerge from ABT’s workshops.