Have you always dreamed of a supercar but circumstances dictate that you go for an estate car instead?
Audi’s RS6 Avant combines the best of both worlds.
On the one hand, it’s a large, luxurious estate that can comfortably transport five adults and all their gear.
On the other, it’s an astonishingly fast piece of kit that can give many supercars a run for their money.
This model is the third generation of Audi’s most bonkers estate car. The first model – produced between 2002 and 2004 – had a twin-turbo 4.2-litre V8, while the second – built between 2008 and 2010 – raised the bar with a twin-turbo 5.0-litre V10.
This new generation of the car downsizes the engine. Under the bonnet, you’ll find a 4.0 litre, twin-turbo V8.
It may disappoint to learn that the power is down slightly from its predecessor’s 571bhp to 552bhp. There’s little cause for concern, however. Torque rises from 479lb/ft to 516lb/ft and the new model is 90kg lighter, so overall it’s faster than the outgoing one.
Quite astonishingly fast, in fact. Zero to 62mph comes up in less than four seconds – that’s more than a second faster than Porsche’s Cayman S.
Top speed is electronically limited to 155mph. If you need (or just want) your estate car to have a higher top speed, you can pay to have it de-restricted.
This raises the car’s maximum velocity to an incredible 189mph. Audi charges an also incredible £10,725 for the privilege, however.
Putting all this power on the tarmac is no problem thanks to Audi’s Quattro permanent four-wheel drive system.
In normal driving conditions, the RS6 splits the power 40/60 to the front/rear axle. However, the onboard computer can send up to 85% to the rear wheels and 70% to the front if conditions demand it.
I took the RS6 for a spin on the back roads around Fettercairn and Laurencekirk. Conditions were perfect for taking a high-performance car for a spin. It was dry, warm and sunny, with hardly any other traffic around.
I don’t think you could ever get bored of the car’s performance. It is quite simply thunderous.
Put your foot down on a straight section of road and the car surges forward in a great leap of acceleration, accompanied by a deep-bellied yowl that is almost as satisfying as the performance itself.
It roared up the Cairn O’ Mount as if it were going downhill instead of uphill.
The car handles with more poise and fluency than anything weighing this much has a right to. Its grip goes way beyond anything that can be explored on a public road and the four-wheel drive keeps you safe and secure.
You do need deep pockets to afford one though. At a shade under £77,000, the RS6 Avant costs more than twice as much as the entry-level A6 Avant and commands a premium of more than £20,000 over the far-from-slow S6 Avant.
By placing a few ticks in the options box it’s easy to increase the cover price of your RS6 past the £90,000 mark without even breaking a sweat.
If you have that sort of money to spend on a performance car, fuel economy is probably not going to be at the top of your agenda.
But then, everyone likes to keep trips to the pumps as far apart as possible, so the good news is the RS6 Avant is remarkably frugal for a two-tonne estate car with more than 550bhp under the bonnet.
It has stop-start technology to cut down fuel wastage at traffic lights. And under lighter loads, four of the engine’s eight cylinders shut down to make the car much more efficient.
You don’t notice the loss of power because the moment you put your foot down the deactivated cylinders spring back into life.
All of this helps get the RS6 within spitting distance of 30mpg. Be prepared to pay quite a bit in VED though: because it is linked to emissions, the RS6 will cost a hurtful £815 in its first year and £475 thereafter.
When you are not using the RS6 as a performance car and simply want to get places, it is a remarkably luxurious cruiser.
I ran it along the A90 to see what it’s like on a dual carriageway. At 70mph in top gear with four of the eight cylinders turned off, the engine’s majestic rasp fades into the background.
Despite the huge 21in wheels, it rides very comfortably, handling bumps with ease. Those massive tyres don’t make themselves heard in the cabin either.
It speaks volumes about just how good Audi interiors are that – despite not being hugely different from A6 Avant costing in the £30,000s – the RS6 interior can hold its head up high alongside other £80,000 luxury cars.
Speaking of volume, there is a capacious 565 litre boot which can be increased to 1,680 litres with the rear seats folded.
Despite its practical estate car body, the RS6 looks the part, thanks to blistered wheel arches housing those huge tyres, a jutting nose and rear spoiler.
It is two cars in one: a practical, luxurious yet sensible family estate, and a supercar-baiting performance car.
Does anyone really need an estate car capable of nearly 190mph? Probably not. But the temptation to have one can’t be denied.
Model: Audi RS6 Avant
Price: £76,985
Engine: 4.0 litre, twin-turbo V8
Performance: 0-62mph: 3.9 seconds
Top speed: 155mph
Economy: 28.8mpg
CO2 rating: 229g/km