Audi RS6 Saloon to Make an Electric Comeback in 2025
Audi Sport is set to bring back the iconic RS6 Saloon as an electric-powered model to compete with the likes of the BMW i5 M60 and Mercedes-AMG EQE 53 saloons. The new electric performance model, expected to be named RS6 E-tron, is scheduled for release in the UK in 2025. This marks the return of the RS6 Saloon after it ceased production in 2010, making way for the RS7 Saloon.
The RS6 E-tron Saloon and RS6 E-tron Avant will be based on the upcoming A6 E-tron models, which are set to launch in 2024. These new electric Audi Sport models will feature a newly developed electric drivetrain, with elements engineered in collaboration with Porsche. The dual-motor system used in the RS6 E-tron will also be utilized in an upgraded version of the Porsche Taycan, set to be unveiled in 2025.
With up to 600bhp and over 738lb ft of torque, the RS6 E-tron models are expected to offer more performance than their combustion-engined counterparts. Equipped with a two-speed gearbox on each motor and a fully variable electric Quattro four-wheel drive system, these electric performance saloons and estates are shaping up to be the fastest-accelerating models in their segment.
The RS6 E-tron Saloon and Avant will be built on the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) structure, a result of the engineering partnership between Audi and Porsche. This platform supports an 800V electric architecture and a silicon-carbide inverter. Other upcoming models based on the PPE platform include the Audi Q6 E-tron SUV, Q6 E-tron Sportback, and the Porsche Macan Electric.
The dimensions of the upcoming RS6 E-tron Saloon can be inferred from the A6 E-tron concept revealed in 2021. With a length of 4960mm, width of 1960mm, and height of 1440mm, the RS6 E-tron Saloon will be slightly larger than the current fifth-generation A6 Saloon.
Initially, Audi had planned to rename the combustion-engined successor models of the A6 Saloon and A6 Avant as the A7 Saloon and A7 Avant, respectively. However, a recent internal review of future operations and the naming system led by Gernot Doellner, the new head of Audi, may change these plans.
Before the arrival of the electric-powered RS6 E-tron Saloon and Avant, Audi intends to provide the existing combustion model with an upgrade in the form of the RS6 GT Avant. Inspired by the RS6 GTO concept, this model will feature a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engine with an increased output of up to 650bhp and 664lb ft of torque. Prototypes of the RS6 GT Avant have been spotted testing at the Nürburgring, showcasing a revised aerodynamic package.
While it is unclear if the RS6 GT Avant will also be offered as an RS7 Saloon, it is expected to be the fastest-accelerating RS6 Avant yet. With an anticipated 0-62mph time of around 3.5 seconds and a top speed limited to 190mph, the RS6 GT Avant promises exhilarating performance.
The return of the Audi RS6 Saloon as an electric-powered model is an exciting development in the world of performance saloons. With its cutting-edge technology and impressive performance figures, the RS6 E-tron is set to make a strong statement in the electric vehicle market. Car enthusiasts and Audi fans alike can look forward to the arrival of this electrifying new model in 2025.