Audi Might Bring Back One of Its Best Performance Sedans

RennSport fans rejoice. You may soon have another high-performance Audi option for sale at your local dealer. Spy photographers continue to nab evidence of a new super sporty sedan. Audi appears eager to add an M5 four-door fighter to its ranks, which means we could soon see the return of the RS6 in super sedan guise.

Spy photos of the upcoming four-door show that Audi is nearly ready to bring the RS6 sedan back to the market. The Drive recently caught an example in action. The prototype in question wears the familiar signs of RS6 styling, from the wheels out back to the oval tailpipes.

Yes, it’s a bummer that Audi is killing off the wonderful RS7. The Performance version delivered tremendous power and speed in an almost shockingly poised manner. Here’s to hoping a new RS6 sedan could do the same. 

There’s really no reason to suspect that wouldn’t be the case. After all, Audi has been steadily refining and improving the RS6 Avant. The mega wagon remains a favorite among enthusiasts. Pressure from the current M5 Touring, future Mercedes-AMG E63, and even the recently deceased Panamera Sport Turismo forced Audi to continually upgrade its own super wagon.

All of that knowledge gleaned means we should expect an RS6 sedan ready to duke it out for high-performance executive shuttle supremacy. In fact, rumors swirl with talk of horsepower figures north of the 700 mark.

What’s the plan to develop that power? We’re guessing that Audi will pair its twin-turbocharged V-8 engines with a bit of electrical assistance. If this means a plugin-hybrid RS6, then so be it. In fact, that could be a way for Audi to meet fuel economy targets while also delivering crushing performance.

The added weight and complexity shouldn’t prove too big an issue. An RS6, in sedan or wagon form, has never been a lightweight sports car. These are luxurious freight trains capable of covering long distances in a short amount of time. And the cars do so in refined comfort. A potential PHEV RS6 doesn’t change that mission. In fact, such a powertrain setup lends itself to better around-town performance.

I just hope that the inclusion of an RS6 sedan in the mix doesn’t affect Audi’s decision to continue offering a wagon in the States. The BMW M5 Touring has proven to be a strong seller in the segment. Mercedes continues to prep its upcoming E63 successor. Porsche still offers a wagon version of its Taycan. Audi needs to stay in the fight and keep hope alive for all of us lovers of the longroof.