Audi India will launch the very exciting and performance-heavy RS6 Avant in India on the 4th of June. The move is a brave one in some senses, since India has traditionally not been a station wagon market.
The RS6 is based on the Audi A6 - and even though the A6 is in its 4th generation, the RS6 was only introduced with the 2nd generation onwards. Unlike previous generations of the RS6 which had sedan and wagon variants, the 3rd RS6 debuted globally in only an Avant (station wagon) avatar in 2012 - and was therefore initially ruled out for India.
But now, the thinking at Audi is different - where the market looks ready for niche segment vehicles too. The RS6 will naturally be a direct import - with very few units allocated for India anyway. Like the RS7, it will simply play the role of brand flagship, with a few takers opting for the convenience and space of a station wagon, coupled with superb performance.
The RS6 is powered by Audi's 4.0 TFSI V8 with a massive 560 bhp and 700 Nm of torque. It also does 0-100 kmph in 3.9 seconds, which is blisteringly fast for a wagon! The transmission is an 8-speed tiptronic.
The car has cylinder-on demand - with Audi's valvelift. This means only 4 cylinders operate most of the time, with the intake and exhaust valves of two cylinders per side closing off when not needed. This coupled with the start-stop system helps save fuel. The car also features Audi's matrix LED lighting system.
Expect prices to breach the Rs 1 crore mark. But on the whole I sincerely hope the RS6 plays the larger role of being the flag-bearer to the humble - yet very functional station wagon segment. Will it mean we get a flurry of wagons soon? Perhaps not.
But if the RS6 can at least be seen as aspirational and exciting to the Indian buyer, s/he might look beyond that and at the practicality of a station wagon too. I certainly hope that BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar are watching this closely - as I would be thrilled to have them announce their Touring/Shooting Brake models for India too!
Also Check: Audi RS6 Review
