By Jeff Glucker
Rejoice ye of longroof faith. For your forbidden king has been granted reprieve in the kingdom of crossovervania.
The 2020 Audi RS6 Avant is coming to America. Kamil already told you about the numbers. I’m here to tell you that he’s wrong about the looks.
This is one damn fine looking machine. Is it perfect? No. I’m not in love with the rear bumper or the treatment around the exhaust. The rest of it though, is *kisses fingers*.
While I love the idea of understated vehicular muscle, I think a little bit of showoff style is appropriate as well. You can only achieve so much of that with a wagon, and I believe that Audi has hit most of its marks with the RS6 Avant.
Take a gander at the profile shot above. The stance is powerful. You can see the slightly boxed fenders even from this angle. I’d like a bit more meat on the tires, but that’s easily solved with new wheels and tires, assuming you can clear the brakes. The lines of the glass form a sharp point that helps accentuate the long lovely roof. And the character line flows from tip to tail as a stout bit of design that serves to let you know this wagon isn’t to be trifled with.
I can’t afford this car. I’m not sure how many people will buy this car. I’m fucking thrilled that this car is coming to America. Hopefully… to be loved.
Audi is working hard to make sure that’s the case. Check out the video below, and gird thy goosebumps:
It’s a little over the top, but it’s not the first RS6 Avant that wasn’t exactly stealthy. I also would still take the E63, but I’m glad it has competition.
Now, if VAG really wanted to make a point, they’d do a GTI wagon.
It’s rare when I find myself agreeing with Kamil instead of Jeff, but I must admit a strong preference for the tamer S6 Avant. It’s aggressive enough without looking like a ridiculous Photoshop custom.
https://st.automobilemag.com/uploads/sites/11/2019/04/Audi-S6-Avant-96.jpg
https://st.automobilemag.com/uploads/sites/11/2019/04/Audi-S6-Avant-97.jpg
Saw an earlier model (MY17) RS6 wagon in white just an hour ago and those are a lot less shouty.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/3d2b2ed532d5a136fe8a19bf874c1c46f6567c0f9a94ecc482eaf4766cdbea34.jpg
I agree. The S6 is a very handsome, well thought out design. The lower front and rear fascias on the RS look like they’re from a completely different car.
It’s a little over the top, but it’s not the first RS6 Avant that wasn’t exactly stealthy. I also would still take the E63, but I’m glad it has competition.
Now, if VAG really wanted to make a point, they’d do a GTI wagon.
I’m holding out for a Mustang-based Ford Falcon wagon.
http://www.amcarguide.com/wp-content/gallery/mustang-wagon-intercc/7-1955-intermeccanica-mustang-station-wagon.jpg
Here’s a 1969 Falcon wagon with a few Mustang touches https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e80db329ab147f1ff6460e941d8aa0bdff2b62f4925a3e76d4502595a50266f6.jpg
I remember seeing a two door XP or XM ( I can’t remember) panel van for sale in rural Western Australia and thinking it might make a great platform for a shooting brake show car https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/44054230e66e797fc526337898a315c393a4f63d0939e49c3057d18a11f48972.jpg
They had a 2-door wagon in the US of course, but I think the Australian version with the shorter rear overhang looks a bit neater.
That does look tidier– perhaps 4 or 5 inches shorter behind the rear wheel, compared to the U.S. version? Looks like the same wheelbase, though. The earliest Falcons were identical between the countries though, right? (Other than RHD vs LHD.)
I think only the 4-door was the same, the other 3 Australian bodies (wagon, sedan delivery and ute) had the same short overhang. The later hardtop was I think built from stampings sent from the US with convertible reinforcements, and local front end styling.