24 Jan 05
It's not unusual for car manufacturers to endow cars that are nearing the end of their days with a few extra goodies to help clear showroom space for the arrival of a replacement model. Boxes of CD players, alloy wheels and floor mats get unearthed from the backs of factories, and contents are divvied out onto decrepit models in a vain attempt to clear floor space.
And, as I write in January 2005, a new Audi A6 estate, or Avant, is imminent, thus spelling the end for all incarnations of the current model, including the RS6. So it only seemed fitting to test the 'ultimate' version of the outgoing car. Nothing to do with fancying a go in a 174mph motor, you understand. So how did Audi decide it should polish off sales of the 450bhp, £60,000 estate? Um, by slapping an extra 30 horses under the bonnet and applying a set of attractive, if somewhat kerbable for a family car, aluminium wheels. Et voila, one £66,675 RS6 plus. Or rather, 999 RS6 pluses, for that is the production limit. Better than a set of floor mats and free front foglights, eh?
So, is it any good then? It's not bad, aye. Even from a distance it's fairly obvious that this de-chromed RS6 isn't like other A6 Avants. Those big grey wheels perfectly fill the arches, the ride height is dropped 10mm over the (already low) regular RS6 (as part of the free 'sports suspension plus' package, which includes firmer springs and dampers), and the blue colour of our test car is also unique to the RS6 plus, as are two other colours, silver and ebony black.
Inside, all RS6 pluses get carbon-fibre trim inserts, plus the exceptionally supportive and comfortable, electrically adjustable and leather Recaro seats you see pictured here; as well as a little plaque forward of the gearlever, on which each model's limited edition number is engraved.
