Every generation has its star vehicle, and this generation has chosen the SUV and Crossover. We get it. It's a game of numbers. But in a market saturated by performance SUVs and trucks – it's a breath of fresh air to spot a purebred, feisty, characterful performance wagon that'll throb your heart with your foot on half-throttle. We are talking about the 2023 ABT Audi RS6-S Avant.
This no-nonsense, gas-guzzling grizzly bear of a wagon will not just turn heads because it's a beauty. No. It'll have the hair behind your neck flexing to the vibration of its powerhouse twin-turbo V8.
A lot of people take tailpipe acoustics for granted – be warned! Soon enough, mechanical tail-end acoustics will be a thing of the past. You'll be thumping to computer-generated engine sounds once all automakers go all in on EVs.
That's why we marvel every time tuners like ABT release an amped-up version of a mainstream performance car – like this 700 hp (710 ps) 2023 ABT Audi RS6-S Avant.
The folks at Auditography on YouTube recently dropped one of their typical cinematic showcases of this fantastic ride – we couldn't help but share the niceness shot in the beautiful mountains south of Germany.
Not your type of car is MPG is your priority
Photo: YouTube Screenshot/Auditography
If you've been following our stories, you probably read about a 2018 RS3 8V Sportback popping in a Merlin Purple shade. If you thought that spec was cool, then ABT's recent RS6-S Avant release will have you drooling at its spec sheet.
Regarding practicality, the 2023 Audi RS6 Avant has all the qualities of the much-beloved SUV. It'll make school pick-ups and drop-offs and late-morning office runs much faster and more exciting.
You want space? Well, its long roof design and roomy interior will have five adults sitting comfortably with enough storage space at the back, just like your favorite high-ridding grocery-getter.
SUVs have gotten a lot fancier, and while the RS6 Avant was designed to be on the performance side of things, the 2023 variant has a lot to offer in terms of classy designs and decked-out interior.
But there's only one problem – it's not the type of car to buy if gas prices are on the list of things drowning your finances.
Most hot-blooded super wagon in its league
Photo: YouTube Screenshot/Auditography
As you've probably noticed on the title, this isn't your normal 2023 RS6 Avant (a phenomenal release by all means), but an ABT-tuned version of the new RS6, the 2023 ABT RS6-S Avant.
The tuners website says it is "one of the most hot-blooded in its league." And they are right.
Stock, the 2023 Audi RS6 Avant packs a twin-turbo 4-liter V8 good for 591 hp (600 hp) and 590 lb-ft (800 Nm) of torque. Its feisty engine is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission (with a triptonic manual shifter). Audi's standard award-winning all-wheel drive Quattro system sends all that juice to the four wheels.
Now, 591 hp (600 ps) is more than enough bite for a street-going car. But what kind of world would we live in if everything we yearned for was enough? A boring one!
We live in a capitalist society, where more means better, and getting on top means stepping on others. Well, ABT believes even a true thoroughbred can be refined better, and as a result, they refined the 2023 RS6 Avant unleashing a further 100 hp (101 ps) on the original.
ABT will add an extra 40 hp if you wish
Photo: YouTube Screenshot/Auditography
That brings the maximum power output on the 2023 ABT Audi RS6-S Avant to 700 hp (710 ps) and 649 lb-ft (880 Nm) of torque. If you want more, ABT will further push your RS6-S to 740 hp (750 ps) and 679 lb-ft (920 Nm) of torque.
ABT's 2023 RS6-S will bolt from 0 to 62 mph (100 kph) in 3.1 seconds. That's faster than a stock variant from 0 to 60 mph (97 kph) at 3.5 seconds.
Still, this tuned performance wagon isn't all about power. It's hard to ignore its neat Florett Silver Matte exterior. ABT went a step further and made the interior styling unique to this release with 'RS6-S' and 'ABT' badging where appropriate; on the seats, engine cover, racing wheel, door sill, and rear hatch.
At the front, they spiced the aggressive fascia with an RS6-S carbon front splitter, complementing front and side carbon add-ons. Up top, it comes with an RS6 Carbon roof spoiler for a clean, aggressive aero appeal.
Performance add-ons to complement its power
Photo: YouTube Screenshot/Auditography
For tailpipe acoustics, it comes with quad ABT exhaust (adjusted to the Euro 7 emissions regulations) with stainless steel tips. Down below, the 2023 ABT RS6-S rocks 22-inch HR high-performance wheels.
You also get ABT height adjustable suspension and anti-roll bars on this performance-tuned variant.
There's no doubt that this 2023 ABT Audi RS6-S Avant is a show-stopper. It's not the quickest we've seen, but the perfect blend of aesthetics and performance add-ons.
Curious how this beast rolls down the narrow mountain hill roads? We recommend catching that action and more in the video below.
Humphrey is a car enthusiast whose love and passion for automobiles extended into collecting, writing, driving, and working on cars. He got his passion for cars from his Dad, who spent thousands of hours working on his old junky 1970 E20 Toyota Corolla. Years later, he would end up doing the same with a series of lemons he’s owned throughout his adult life. Full profile
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