- The fuel cap on the driver’s side confirms this is a PHEV.
- A high-voltage yellow sticker also indicates an electric powertrain.
- Audi is likely to keep the V8 and bring back the RS6 sedan.
Hot on the heels of the reveal of the new RS5 Avant, Audi has been spotted putting the finishing touches on its big brother. The RS6 Wagon looks almost ready to shed its disguise and reveal those bulging wheel arches, complete with front fender vents inherited from the previous generation RS6 GT. At the rear, the oval way indicators appear larger than before and sit closer together.
But the most significant change is hidden in plain sight. A fuel cap on the driver’s side rear fender confirms that the next-generation RS6 will adopt a plug-in hybrid powertrain. Audi’s regular A6 Avant E-Hybrid has a charging port in the same location, which is used to top up the 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. This is despite the smaller RS-badged wagon sharing the same 25.9-kWh gross capacity as the A5 Avant Hybrid. In the RS5, that electric power provides up to 52 miles (84 km) of city driving.
In addition to the charging port, the test car displays another telltale sign that it’s a plug-in hybrid. Yellow high-voltage stickers are mandatory at the Nürburgring so safety officials know the car has a high-voltage electrical system in case something goes wrong. The Toyota GR GT sported the same markings before its official launch, confirming a hybrid powertrain built around a V8.
Speaking of the eight-cylinder engine, the new RS6 is expected to retain the V8 in a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter configuration. VW Group already offers eight-cylinder PHEVs for Lamborghini, Bentley and Porsche, and it looks like Audi is next in line to combine a V8 with an electric motor. The RS5 already produces a combined 630 hp, it’s reasonable to expect more than 700 hp given the larger gas engine.
The RS6 Avant will collide with the BMW M5 Touring, another plug-in hybrid V8 performance wagon. Munich’s electrified all-rounder delivers a total system output of 717 hp, though its combustion engine was recently detuned to meet tougher emissions regulations in Europe. BMW made up for the drop in ICE output by upgrading the electric motor, keeping the same combined figures as before.
2027 Audi RS6 Avant Rendering by Motor1
Photo by: Theophilus Chen | Motor 1
The next-generation RS6 Avant will inevitably be heavier. The long-roofed RS5 already tips the scales at 5,225 pounds (2,370 kg). With the RS6 being bigger and packing a bigger engine, it will definitely outdo its little brother. It remains to be seen whether it will topple the M5 Touring, which weighs 5,456 lbs (2,475 kg) in European specification.
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 15 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 if the sedan will launch alongside the wagon.
Motor1’s Tech: Even under full body camouflage, the new RS6 already looks extremely desirable, with its flared fenders and massive exhaust tips. It should command even more presence for buyers than the RS5 Avant, which will undoubtedly command a hefty premium. The little RS wagon already starts at €107,850 in Germany, before options.
Whether deep-pocketed enthusiasts will embrace the complex V8 hybrid setup, and the extra weight that comes with it, remains to be seen. An electric powertrain is a necessity, with the Euro 7 standard fast approaching. Sticking with a mild hybrid V8 is no longer enough.
