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2009 Audi RS 6 Unveiled with a Price Tag of 105,550 Euros

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Audi has taken the wraps off the 2009 Audi RS 6 sedan.

The 2009 RS 6 is powered by a 580 horsepower 5.0L V10 engine that is mated to a six-speed tiptronic automatic transmission. The car is capable of reaching 0-62 mph in 4.5 seconds and the top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph, which can be optionally raised to 174 mph.

The 2009 RS 6 will be available in November (Germany) starting at 105,550 Euros.


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PRESS RELEASE:

The new Audi RS 6:
The confidently superior sports sedan from quattro GmbH

- Twin-turbo V10 producing 426 kW (580 hp) and 650 Nm of torque
- Racing-inspired direct injection and dry-sump lubrication
- A wealth of high-tech for superior performance

426 kW (580 hp) and 650 Nm (479.42 lb-ft) of torque – with its twin-turbo V10 and quattro permanent all-wheel drive, the Audi RS 6 is a car without equal. Following on the heels of the RS 6 Avant, Audi now presents the sedan. It drives like a supercar thanks to its superior performance and thrilling dynamics, yet offers all of the everyday utility of a large business sedan.

The engine of the new Audi RS 6 is a high-tech work of art. The 4,991 cc V10 bundles a number of Audi’s race-winning technologies – FSI direct fuel injection, dry-sump lubrication and two turbochargers. With up to 1.6 bar of boost pressure, these provide smooth, powerful thrust and an incomparable power band: The peak torque of 650 Nm (479.42 lb-ft) is available from 1,500 to 6,250 rpm and thus nearly over the entire rev range. Peak power of 426 kW (580 hp) is generated between 6,250 rpm and the maximum figure of 6,700 rpm.

With a power-to-weight ratio of 3.4 kilograms per hp, the Audi RS 6 performs like a supercar. It catapults to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 4.5 seconds on its way to an electronically-limited top speed of 250 km/h (155.34 mph), which can be optionally raised to 280 km/h (173.98 mph). The V10 responds immediately and spontaneously to the throttle, and is very smooth while accelerating with a powerful roar.

The engine’s power flows through the six-speed tiptronic, one of a new, dynamic generation of Audi automatic transmissions. Its reaction time has been reduced to one tenth of a second, shift time has been halved compared to units used in other models and transmission ratios are short. The driver can also manually change gears either using the shift lever or the paddles on the steering wheel. The tiptronic transmission transfers the power to an extremely sporty, rear-weighted quattro drive train.

Precision high-tech suspension

The technology bundled into the suspension of the Audi RS 6 guarantees an amazing performance experience. The front axle features four lightweight aluminum control arms per wheel, whose elastokinematics have been designed for particularly sporty performance. The characteristics of the speed-dependent servotronic power steering were retuned and the steering gear ratio is a direct 12.5:1. The rear suspension kinematics have also been modified.

The development engineers have also deployed an exclusive damping technology: Dynamic Ride Control DRC reduces pitch and roll using purely mechanical means. Hydraulic lines and valves connect diagonally opposed pairs of shock absorbers. When cornering, the flow of fluid to the damper of the compressing outside front wheel increases, providing firmer support and reducing roll. When combined with the sports suspension plus, DRC offers a choice of three selectable damper settings – sport, dynamic and comfort – which can be activated via the MMI.

The electronic stabilization system ESP offers maximum driving fun with uncompromised safety. Its relatively high activation threshold encourages a dynamic driving style. It offers a Sport mode and can also be deactivated entirely.
The new Audi RS 6 rolls on 19-inch alloy wheels shod with 255/40 tires. Up front, six-piston fixed aluminum calipers – painted black and decorated with RS badges – clamp down on 390 millimeter brake disks. The rear brake disks measure 365 millimeters in diameter. The rear axle features single-piston floating brake calipers. The floating steel disks feature large cooling ducts and axial perforations for enhanced performance and less weight.

9.5J x 20-inch wheels are offered as an option. These allow the use of a ceramic brake system. The 420 (front) and 356 (rear) millimeter disks weigh a total of 12.2 kilograms (26.90 lb) less than the steel disks. The calipers – up front with eight pistons – are painted anthracite and labeled “Audi ceramic.”

The body of the 4.93 meter (16.17 ft) RS 6 also sports a number of distinctive features that immediately identify it as a dynamic, top-of-the-line model. These include the single-frame grill, the air intakes, the headlights featuring xenon plus, adaptive light and RS 6-specific LED daytime running lights, the flared fenders and deep side skirts, the rear diffuser, the spoiler integrated into the trunk lid and the two large oval exhaust pipes.

The finest of materials and uncompromised quality

Like all Audi RS models developed and built by quattro GmbH in cooperation with AUDI AG, the RS 6 is the embodiment of power, elegance, exclusivity and perfection. The interior is adorned with the finest of materials such as carbon fiber, aluminum, piano lacquer, leather and Alcantara in tried-and-tested Audi quality.

The deeply sculpted sports seats provide optimal support and firm hold. The power-adjustable seats are upholstered in Silk Nappa leather, with leather/Alcantara and Valcona leather available as options. Bucket seats with an even more sporty emphasis are also offered for both driver and front passenger. Standard equipment includes the dual-zone deluxe automatic air conditioning plus, a parking assistant at front and rear, an RS leather multifunction sports steering wheel with flat-bottomed rim and a Bose surround sound system. A boost pressure indicator for the two turbochargers in the driver information system rounds out the instrumentation.

The options are also pure hi-tech: Audi lane assist helps to keep the car in its lane, adaptive cruise control maintains a constant distance to the car ahead and Audi side assist helps the driver change lane safely. The Audi Bluetooth car phone integrates perfectly with the driver’s cell phone to make even using the phone a luxurious experience. It is integrated into the standard MMI operating system, a new generation of which is making its debut in the Audi RS 6.

The Audi RS 6 will be launched on the market in mid-October. The starting price in Germany including VAT is 105,550 euros.


Comments (19)

cobaltssman:

overpriced

CKV:

Overpriced....

I LOVE WHINING !

TrainRekS:

i thought it would be priced to match the M5, but its twice as much. It still is a bad ass car.

Timeless:

When you get to that price, I'd rather stick with AMG.

CivicMan:

Once again, no clutch, no fun

Brian :

Really what's the point of a clutch on a 580 hp awd car? I think I'd go for tiptronic over manual in this car anyway. I'd love to see it in DSG form, but with that much power it might prove difficult to get high reliability out of it.

I do find it amusing that everyone loves the DSG Ralliart, but everything else needs a clutch. Please, the manual transmission is a relic that hasn't been heavily improved upon in over 50 years. The greatest improvement has been synromesh, which can be found on a 70's VW beetle. DSG could be the future (not that I'm a fan of the VW/Audi design, but it certainly works).

dracolnyte:

what the heck does it compete with now?! o.O

Vtfo0lio:

While I love dual clutch transmissions, I'm a lifetime member of the old school 3-pedal club. I'm thinking however, that aside from the DSG in the Bugatti, VW doesn't have one that can hold the torque from this beast.

Noya:

The Audi "RS" line never disappoints.

The metallic side mirrors look wicked.

And yes, dual-clutch transmissions are here to stay, with most companies (except the "Big 3") working on their own versions for $20k compacts to $250k Ferrari's.
If I recall correctly, Audi got the jump on everyone in the dual clutch market thanks to Porsche's original dual clutch gearbox in one of their racing cars from 25+ years ago.

Subpra:

I like this from Brian "I do find it amusing that everyone loves the DSG Ralliart, but everything else needs a clutch. Please, the manual transmission is a relic that hasn't been heavily improved upon in over 50 years."

That is like saying the wheel is a relic and hasn't been improved upon for 1000 years.

It is a manual transmission dude! What is there to improve upon? If you can't use one you can't drive. Who wants this electronic crap that takes away from "driving" a car.

It takes a long time to get good using a manual so when you ride with someone that can use one well, it is really fun and they get respect.

I just can't imagine someone saying, "Hey you can really shift with the dual clutch paddle shifter!"

Bill:

ok this is getting a bit silly - 580 hp ???

with that much power it ought to be faster to 60mph but then again i guess it weighs more than the titanic

looks great, i have to say

Brian :

@ Subpra

Oh, I'm not saying a manual isn't a good thing. I just think they have their place. My 04 Corolla is manual and I'm quite happy with it.

But I've come across a lot of purists who think anything other than a manual is an abomination. And that somehow the manual gear box is the end all be all of power transmission to the wheels.

If you go back 40-50 years, yeah manual was what you had all the way from compact/basic car to race car. Now the high end (race, ralley, almost every competition vehicle) is using some type of DSG or modified manual (usually with paddle or ratchet style shifting). It's not so much about it giving more control, it's about the speed that power gets applied. And for racing that's what's important.

You are seeing that technology trickle down into more "average" cars and I have a feeling you'll probably see DSG style show up on more mid range cars where there were only automatics before.

Having owned both an auto and manual, I think I'd go with a DSG design (assuming I'm not going to modify the engine heavily) if avaiable. If it was a weekend warrior (say classic muscle car) manual all the way. A "family" wagon or van, probably auto just for ease of use sake.


And on a slightly different thing, why can't you make a manual better? Every car produced today has computer engine management. The computer knows the engine rpms, throttle position, and current vehicle speed. Why can't the computer adjust engine idle speed so you obtain the least amount of clutch/syncro wear as possible by matching engine/tranny speed? Why couldn't you put a small electric motor in the transmission to spin up the input shaft (or slow down) the input shaft as the gear changes? All of these improvements look like things a DSG design works around, but sacrifices basic simplicity for....

cobaltssman:

@CKV

i love u chick

gary:

i like it.
It looks a bit like Toyota, Nissan and a bit of Honda.

drairy:

WOW for Eu105k or US160k, i can buy 2 Escalades and still have 20k in the pocket for fuel. Now who is the smartest here?

Jimb:

The RS's are very nice cars. On the manual/auto/DSG debate, manuals may be fun, may be "pure", and might be cool, but in terms of going as fast as you can down the road/track, they cannot compete with today's automatics. Period. I don't care how much time anyone has put into perfecting their shift times, the DSG car in the other lane just pulled out front and stayed there.

As for overpriced, this car wasn't designed for the peasants. People who want these and can afford them are probably, nay, definately, happy that their neighbor cannot afford one; that's partly the point.

And yes, you could buy two Escalades, or ten Corollas, or 160 thousand hotdogs, such an statement is pointless. There are always give and takes.

Jason:

Looks nice on the outside, and the performance is there... It's main rival (price-wise) is the AMG S63. I think the AMG looks a bit nicer, but I'm sure the Audi will outperform.

09:

castrated by the chip.

Brad:

I guess it's about time for Ferrari or Lambo to put out a 4 door...

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