24 Jan 05
The engine fires up with a menacing woofle, indicating that a great deal of air is being in- and exhaled by the twin-turbocharged, 4.2-litre V8; its gases featuring rather more carbon dioxide when exiting the new sports exhaust than they did on entry (to the sum of 350g/km, or half a tonne every 888 miles). Blame combined cycle fuel consumption of 19.3mpg for that one.
But what an engine. There's a little delay after one buries the throttle into the carpet, which may be turbo lag, but feels like much like any other auto gearbox's torque converter taking up the slack, and then the RS6 is off like a shot. 0-62mph takes just 4.6 seconds and that 174mph top speed is limited; without it, 200mph should be within reach. And because the RS6 plus weighs 1,865kg and feels it, you know serious forces are at work. That 480 metric horsepower (473bhp if one is entirely accurate) comes in at 6,000rpm, while peak torque of 413lb ft is available the entire way between 1,950 and 6,000rpm. So it doesn't really matter what gear you're in: bruising acceleration is just a foot-flex away.
Braking requires a firmer foot. Discs are new, cross drilled and ventilated both front and rear, while front calipers have eight pistons. With driver, passenger and maybe a spot of luggage on board, two tonnes of fast-moving estate car takes some stopping and these do the business with decent pedal feel and little fuss, save for the body shifting considerably forward on the suspension, no matter how firm the dampers.
