New Audi RS6 GT: Retro-inspired super-estate loses weight but gains visual impact

Audi’s bonkers Avant just got crazier! Now, a limited-edition evokes the 1980s IMSA-GTO race car, borrowing its garish livery and sporting lightweight carbon panels galore. Is this RennSport’s most extreme estate ever?

In the almanac of tortured motoring tropes, ‘race car for the road’ appears on page one. However, it’s never seemed more fitting than for Audi’s latest, limited-run hyper-wagon: the RS6 GT.  

RS’s latest creation doffs its cap at the venomous 5-cylinder, 720-bhp 1989 90 Quattro IMSA GTO racecar. It’s not a particularly snappy title, but for anyone who was weaned on a diet of late ‘80s motor racing, that name and those colours carry a special significance – and trigger the evocative echoes of history’s most sonorous turbo five-pot. 

So, it’s a good thing the new RS6 GT has the substance to wear that paintjob with pride. Power hasn’t increased although, at 621 bhp, it didn’t need to. Instead, the team’s toil has been exclusively invested in the chassis.

Sharper handling is the name of the game. To that end, the GT receives an improved sports differential that’s more liberal in its allocation of torque to the rear wheels. Further helping to neutralise the infamous understeer, there’s a full coilover suspension at all four corners, plus special carbon wings, bonnet, and spoiler, to reduce weight over the nose.

Shedding unnecessary kgs has also benefited the Audi’s acceleration. The 0-60 mph time has dropped to 3.1 seconds (formerly 3.3), while the 0-125 mph dash reports an even greater 1.5 second reduction, at 11.5 seconds.

After such a comprehensive list of chassis upgrades, you might think Audi would’ve called it a day, but the fun doesn’t stop there. Vast 285/30 Continental SportContact 7’s wrap distinctive 22-inch white wheels – generating the greatest possible adhesion when teamed with the weight savings. 

In fact, so precise is the chassis tuning, Audi doesn’t want you messing it up with a hulking great roof box; the roof rails have been removed. There are also standard ceramic brakes which can scrub off speed at an even greater rate than before, reducing stopping distances by up to 2 metres from 62 mph. 

Just 660 of these bespoke carbon-clad machines will be assembled on a special, small-series production line that’s previously birthed the likes of R8 and E-Tron GT. And, of this already limited allocation, the UK is set to receive just 60 cars.

However, the £176,975 starting price should curtail demand somewhat. For a similar figure, you buy a new Bentley Continental GT or Ferrari Roma, so we expect most RS6 GT orders to come from only the most devout Audi aficionados. If that’s you, you can expect to receive your ultimate RS6 in Q2 of 2024, and we’d be lying if we said we weren’t a tad jealous.  

Does Audi’s retro racer earn a spot in your dream garage? If not, tell us which sporty wagon gets your vote.  

Hero image credit:  Audi