New Audi RS6 spied with plug-in hybrid power

Shortly after the unveiling of the new RS5 Avant, Audi has been spotted putting the finishing touches to its bigger brother. The RS6 wagon looks almost ready to shed its disguise and reveal those bulging wheel arches, complete with front fender vents carried over from the previous generation RS6 GT. At the rear, the oval exhaust tips appear larger than ever and are closer together.

But the most important change is hidden in plain sight. The fuel cap on the driver’s side rear fender confirms that the next generation RS6 will use a plug-in hybrid powertrain. Audi’s regular A6 Avant E-Hybrid features a charging port at the same location, which is used to supplement a battery pack with a usable capacity of 20.7 kWh.

While it’s too early to say whether the Audi Sport version will use the same battery, it’s worth noting that the RS5 Avant offers a net capacity of 22 kWh. That’s despite the smaller RS-badged car sharing the same 25.9 kWh gross capacity as the A5 Avant hybrid. In the RS5, this electric energy provides up to 84 kilometers of driving pleasure in the city.

Aside from the charging port, the test car shows another telltale sign that it’s a plug-in hybrid. The yellow high-voltage stickers are mandatory at the Nürburgring so that safety workers know that the vehicle has a high-voltage electrical system in case something goes wrong. The Toyota GR GT carried the same markings prior to its official debut, confirming a hybrid powertrain built around a V8.

Speaking of an eight-cylinder engine, the new RS6 is expected to retain the V8 in a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter configuration. The VW Group already offers eight-cylinder PHEVs for Lamborghini, Bentley and Porsche, and it looks like Audi is next in line to pair a V8 with an electric motor. Since the RS5 already produces a combined output of 630 hp, it’s reasonable to expect well over 700 hp given the larger gas engine.

The RS6 Avant will compete against the BMW M5 Touring, another plug-in hybrid V8 performance car. The electrified all-rounder from Munich delivers a total system power of 717 hp, although the combustion engine was recently detuned in Europe to meet stricter emissions regulations. BMW compensated for the reduction in ICE production by upgrading the electric motor, maintaining the same combined figure as before.

The next generation RS6 Avant will inevitably be heavy. The RS5 with a long roof already weighs 2,370 kilograms. Because the RS6 is larger and has a larger engine, it will almost certainly outweigh its smaller sibling. It remains to be seen whether it will surpass the European-spec M5 Touring, which weighs 2,475kg.

Like the RS5, which is also sold as a sedan (technically a five-door liftback), Audi will offer an RS6 Sedan. It’s been more than fifteen years since the Four Rings last sold a four-door RS6, and its return is welcome news. The new RS6 is expected to debut later this year, although it’s unclear whether the sedan will launch alongside the wagon.

Taking Motor1s: Even under full camouflage, the new RS6 already looks extremely attractive, with its flared fenders and enormous exhaust tips. It should have even more presence than the RS5 Avant for buyers willing to pay what will undoubtedly be a steep premium. The smaller RS ​​wagon starts at €107,850 in Germany, before options.

Whether enthusiasts with deep pockets will embrace the complex V8 hybrid setup and the extra weight that comes with it remains to be seen. The electrified powertrain is a necessity now that the Euro 7 standard is fast approaching; sticking with a mild-hybrid V8 is no longer enough.