Audi RS6 In Depth

Performance The tractive capability of quattro permanent four-wheel drive converts the V8 biturbo's high torque into propulsive power with impressive efficiency and directional stability. The Audi RS 6 sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds and reaches the 200 km/h mark after 17.6 seconds. The top speed of 250 km/h is governed smoothly by electronic means. Sporty tiptronic The automatic five-speed tiptronic transmission specially developed for the RS 6 originates from the six-liter, twelve-cylinder Audi A8 6.0 and copes with the engine's high torque levels without any trouble. The modifications made focused on even shorter shifting times. The tiptronic's adaptive program recognizes the driver's style at a particular moment and varies the shift points accordingly. The tiptronic in the RS 6 satisfies the demands for emphatically sporty driving with a dynamic Sport program: the S mode pushes the gears higher up so that the tiptronic changes up later and down sooner. This program also adapts the shift points to the driver's own particular style. A special feature of the tiptronic becomes apparent when cornering at high speed. Depending on lateral acceleration, the advanced tiptronic selects a sub-program that delays the shift points even further. In this way the gears are pushed up as far as possible to prevent unwanted shifting and therefore interruptions in traction when cornering. The Audi RS 6 driver can of course also operate the tiptronic manually. This is done either at the selector lever on the centre console or by pressing one of the two shift paddles. These are fixed to the steering wheel so that their recesses are conveniently within reach regardless of the position of the steering wheel. The right paddle is used to shift up, the left paddle to shift down. A noticeable pressure point gives the driver precise feedback. If the driver actively intervenes in the tiptronic, his choice of gear overrides the driving program currently in use for ten seconds. For safety reasons, the transmission control still always checks the plausibility of the shift command. High-performance brake system In keeping with the car's high performance, quattro GmbH has developed a completely new brake system for the Audi RS 6. Brake discs of a composite design derived from motorsport have been fitted on both the front and rear wheels. An aluminium brake-disc chamber minimises weight and consequently ensures a low unsprung mass. It is connected to a ventilated cast friction ring by 14 radial steel pins. This design ensures the decoupled thermal expansion of components. The floating arrangement improves the stability of the brake discs in combination with a low weight, particularly when exposed to extreme loads and at high operating temperatures. The ventilated disc brakes have a diameter of 365 millimeters at the front, and 335 millimeters at the rear. 8-piston fixed callipers are used at the front, single-piston floating-calliper brakes with integral handbrake at the rear. The parameters of the ABS and Electronic Brake-force Distribution systems have been adapted to the modified hydraulic conditions. The sporty control algorithms of the Anti-lock Brake System are clearly aimed at very short stopping distances and optimum regulating convenience. Running gear Space for the generously dimensioned brake system is created by 8.5 J x 18 cast aluminium wheels of 9-spoke design with tires of size 255/40 R 18. As an option the Audi RS 6 can be ordered with 9 J x 19 aluminium wheels in the new 5-arm design, fitted with tires of size 255/35 R 19. The 5-spoke wheels for winter tires are of the 7.5 J x 18 dimension and, with substantial 225/45 R 18 M+S tires even at this time of year, ensure optimum traction and handling. The Audi RS 6 is fitted with a tire pressure monitoring system as standard. This monitors the tire pressure of the four wheels during the journey, including the factory-fitted winter wheels. Any variances in pressure are immediately indicated in the driver's display. The swivel bearings and the control arms of the four-link front suspension are of aluminium to reduce the unsprung mass. The spring/shock absorber units and elastokinematics have been retuned to suit the altered axle weights and modified axle geometry in order to achieve sporty handling. A solid anti-roll bar and the rack-and-pinion steering with a direct ratio also contribute towards the vehicle's distinctly sporty handling. A double-wishbone axle with anti-roll bar is fitted at the rear.