- Spy shots show Audi developing an RS6 sedan beside the Avant.
- The last two generations skipped the sedan body style entirely.
- The next RS6 could feature a hybrid setup producing over 700 hp.
The next-generation Audi RS6 has already made several appearances in Avant form, but a fresh prototype now proves that a sedan is also in the works, the first since the C7 generation bowed out of production in 2011.
This move should give Audi’s plug-in hybrid bruiser a fair shot at taking on the BMW M5 and the next Mercedes-AMG E63, both strongholds in the high-performance executive class.
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Our spy photographers caught the camouflaged sedan undergoing road testing, revealing all the RS hallmarks familiar from the Avant. The revisions include a more dynamic front bumper, broader fenders, sharper side skirts, and a deeper rear apron housing the trademark dual oval exhaust outlets.
True to Audi Sport’s understated taste, the tail gets a neat lip spoiler instead of a flashier rear wing.
Baldauf
Unlike the current BMW M models that come with weird rear wheel arches, Audi has taken a more sophisticated approach. The company has invested in RS-specific rear doors that match the lines of the muscular fenders. Another cool touch is the integrated vents on the front fenders, adding to the sporty stance.
The prototype rides on five-spoke alloy wheels and sits noticeably lower than the standard A6, its larger brakes hinting at the power beneath the surface.
Platform and Powertrain
As with the rest of the new A6 and S6 family, the performance flagship will ride on the Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) architecture, albeit with a revised chassis setup from Audi Sport engineers.
At first, it was believed that the new generation would swap the mild-hybrid V8 of its predecessor for a plug-in hybrid V6. However, there have also been reports about a potential return of the twin-turbo V8 as part of a plug-in hybrid setup. In any case, we expect the RS6 to produce over 700 hp (522 kW / 710 PS).
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Audi has also been testing fully electric RS6 E-Tron prototypes in Sportback and Avant forms. However, the latest rumors suggest that the zero-emission model has been cancelled, leaving the combustion offering to carry the nameplate alone.
Audi offered sedan variants of the RS6 in the first two generations (C5 and C6), but more recent models (C7 and C8) were only available in Avant form. The expanded lineup of the new C9 generation will be mirrored by the smaller RS5, proving that Audi has locked its target on the rival BMW M models.
There’s no confirmed date yet, nor any word on whether Audi will bring the RS6 sedan to North America – though we’d be shocked if they didn’t. It’s expected to debut sometime next year as a 2027 model.
