First glimpse of upcoming Audi RS6 saloon

The latest M5 hasn't quite hit the spot - perfect time for the four-door RS6's return, then...

By Matt Bird / Monday, 17 November 2025 / Loading comments

It’s been a jolly long time since there was four-door Audi RS6 in the world, the conventional saloon bodystyle having not been offered since the V10-engined, C6 generation. Even then it was a rare beast, the all-conquering Avant vibe of the RS6 firmly established by then. And with the arrival of the A7 five-door (with an RS7 flagship) for the next generation, there was simply no case for a traditional V8 saloon. But now, with the A7 consigned to the history books and development of a new RS6 wagon underway, there’s scope for a sedan to return - here’s your first look.

Even with the disguise, this couldn’t be anything but a hot Audi. The burly front arches give this A6 the shoulders of a prop, inside which sit some of the biggest brakes and calipers we’ve ever seen on a production car. The wheels might look to have been borrowed from an A3, but this is very clearly something pretty serious. The new front end screams uberholt prestige, and the rear bumper looks to be rivalling the M5 for sheer pumped up silliness.

Speaking of the BMW, it’s expected that the RS6 will employ a similar plug-in hybrid V8 powertrain; there is one in the group already, employed to spectacular effect, in the shape of the Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid. However the regular A6 is underpinned by the Audi Premium Platform Combustion architecture, which hasn’t yet employed V8 power, so let’s see. Presumably Audi will have witnessed what’s happened with AMG’s downsizing attempts and retained the 4.0-litre. Certainly those oval tailpipes, that could have come straight from a C5 original, would imply something pretty potent under the bonnet. The previous RS6 finished up with 630hp, and if this is carrying some hybridisation it will need more power to offset that. The BMW is at 727hp already…

Indeed, time is of the essence for the new RS6. There hasn’t been much of late to be properly excited by from Audi Sport, with the demise of the R8 and no immediate replacements for the core RS Avants. The RS3 is very good, as is the RSQ8, but the brand needs more to show off right now. Look at Mercedes-AMG and BMW M for proof. This RS6, in both its forms, surely can’t come soon enough - bring it on.