6 Minutes
CGI Preview: The 2027 Audi RS6 Avant Reimagined
A recent photorealistic CGI shared on Instagram by @avarvarii offers a convincing preview of Audi's upcoming RS6 Avant. Based on the latest spy photos, the rendering suggests the next-generation performance wagon will be an evolutionary, yet clearly sharper, update of the current model. With Mercedes-AMG having stepped away from an E 63 estate, Audi’s new RS6 Avant will face a single direct peer in the high-performance estate segment: the BMW M5 Touring.
Design: Familiar Silhouette, Sharper Details
The render keeps the Avant’s classic long-roof profile but refreshes key details. Notable changes include a slightly taller, pointier front grille, slimmer headlamps with new signature graphics, and reworked lower bumper vents. The small intake that used to sit between grille and hood is gone, and the hood retains crisp creases rather than switching to a clamshell design.
At the rear, the design grows more aggressive: thinner taillights linked by a light strip, pronounced vents at each side of the tailgate, and a sportier diffuser. Audi’s trademark dual oval tailpipes remain, while wheel designs appear carried over from the current RS6 — a sign that Audi is balancing continuity with refinement rather than radical change.
Interior: Tech-Led, Driver-Focused
The imagined cabin shows a modern Audi layout driven by two widescreens behind one glass pane — digital instrument cluster and infotainment combined into a single visual plane. There’s a passenger display, a three-spoke flat-bottom steering wheel, redesigned center console and door cards, and sports seats upholstered in leather and Alcantara with red contrast stitching. A large rear console converts the rear area into a more exclusive four-seater arrangement, underscoring the Avant’s grand-tourer aspirations.
"The cockpit appears to blend luxury with motorsport cues—digital tech up front, classic RS materials throughout," the render suggests, marrying comfort and performance in true executive-wagon fashion.
Powertrain and Performance: A High-Stakes Guessing Game
Audi faces a clear performance benchmark. BMW’s M5 Touring packs a formidable punch — around 717 horsepower and nearly 1,000 Nm of torque in its most potent form — which pushes the sedan to 60 mph in roughly 3.4 seconds (the Touring a hair slower). To remain competitive, the new RS6 family needs to exceed 700 hp. Rumors point to two plausible directions:
- A V8 engine with electrical assistance (mild- or PHEV-style hybrid)
- A hybridized V6 setup that boosts total output through electric motors
Leaked estimates and industry chatter place combined output for the next RS6 at just over 725 hp. That would be a meaningful uplift from the outgoing RS6 Avant Performance, which uses a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 rated at 621 hp (630 PS / 463 kW) and 627 lb-ft (850 Nm), good for a roughly three-second 0–62 mph sprint.
Why the power matters
Performance wagons today are as much about headline horsepower as they are about packaging and real-world usability. Audi will need to deliver explosive acceleration, sharp chassis tuning, and all-wheel-drive intelligence to match BMW’s torque-rich setup — and to protect the RS badge as a true competitor to the M5 Touring.
Market Positioning and Pricing
Audi currently lists the 2026 RS6 Avant Performance on the U.S. website with a starting MSRP around $130,700. That positions it above the A6 Allroad Quattro and the A6 Sedan, which start in the low-to-mid $60k–$70k range. For context, BMW’s M5 Touring begins near $125,300 for the 2026 model year, with the M5 sedan slightly lower.
With Mercedes-AMG absent from the estate fight, the segment looks like a two-horse race: Audi’s RS6 Avant versus BMW’s M5 Touring. That absence raises the stakes — buyers seeking ultimate performance combined with cargo practicality will likely decide between German engineering philosophies: Audi’s quattro AWD and conservative evolution versus BMW’s torque-focused power and driving dynamics.
Key highlights at a glance
- Expected launch: Mid-to-late 2020s model cycle (render suggests 2027 styling)
- Power target: Likely >700 hp to challenge the M5 Touring
- Powertrain options: Rumored V8 hybrid assistance or hybridized V6
- Interior: Dual-screen glass panel, passenger display, Alcantara and leather trim
- Price context: RS6 Avant Performance from ~$130,700 (2026 model)
How it compares to the current RS6 Avant
The next-gen RS6 appears less revolutionary and more evolutionary — refined exterior lines, slimmer lighting signatures, and a tech-forward cabin. If the engine follows the rumors and bumps output past the 700 hp mark, the new RS6 will be both a visual and performance step forward from the outgoing model.
What to watch next
Audi is set to expand the RS6 line with both Avant and a returning RS6 Sedan — the latter marks a comeback to a body style absent for roughly 15 years. Official teasers, further spy shots and confirmation of the powertrain will be critical in the coming months.
As always, renders like @avarvarii’s help set expectations but aren’t final — they do give us a good sense of styling direction and cabin tech. With AMG out of the estate game, the marquee battle will be between Audi and BMW. Which engineering approach do you prefer: Audi’s balanced RS character or BMW’s torque-heavy M philosophy? Share your pick and why — performance wagons are niche, but they make a big statement.
Source: autoevolution
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