The Address Sept-Oct 2013

“As someone once said, it is the quiet ones
you have to watch out for. The Audi RS6
Avant is less a sports sedan and more akin to
the world’s subtlest supercar.”
Clockwise from top — Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow
descended on Piccadilly in London to attend the launch of the
Audi RS6 Avant; RS 3-spoke fl at-bottomed leather multi-function
steering wheel with gear shift paddles in aluminium-look; Valcona
leather seats with honeycomb design
← That is less than 10 km/h shy of the R8 V10’s top speed, and
faster than most Porsches.
Erring back to the side of restraint, the car also features Audi’s
start-stop technology, which kills the engine when at a
standstill and props it up again when it is time to go. In tandem
with a spiffy new cylinder deactivation system that shuts
down four cylinders under light engine loads to save fuel, this
550 hp V8 monster achieves a remarkable 9.8 litres / 100 km
– 40% more fuel efficient than its V10 predecessor. To ensure
this power stays on the road like it is supposed to, the car utilises
Audi’s unique adaptive air suspension, which raises and
lowers the car on the fly to match the performance requirements
of the user, be it ‘Comfort’ or ‘Sports’.
Unlike most sports sedans however, the RS6 has not been
stripped bare of essentials in the ultimate pursuit of power.
Along with a smaller engine, and liberal use of lightweight
aluminum over steel, the car is a full 90 kilos lighter than a
normal A6. This leaves a bit of wiggle room for such creature
comforts as satellite navigation, air-conditioning, a 360-degree
parking camera, a Bose sound system, DAB digital radio
and a typically German luxurious plush leather/brushed metal
sound-proof interior – befitting of a man who does not need
to shout.
As men will always need their toys as well, the RS6 also
sports the latest version of MMI, Audi’s multimedia interface,
with a gesture-driven touchpad similar to the ones found at
Stark Enterprises. In this case, however, the interests were on
keeping the driver’s eyes on the road, instead of on a scroll
wheel typing out someone’s name.
And so this brings us to the definition of a man who has
come into his own. In the immortal words of Don Corleone,
“A man who doesn’t spend time with his family can never be a
real man”. With its spacious rear seats, front and rear airbags,
five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, a digital television tuner
and of course, a massive 565-litre boot to match its ridiculous
speed, the RS6 could indeed be the most manly of cars.
76 TA | SEPT/OCT 2013