The numbers are massive. This Audi RS6 Avant, renamed the RS6-E , keeps the V8 twin turbo of the series model, duly “massaged” by ABT, raising the power from the original 560 hp to a more expressive 730 hp, to which is added an electric motor capable of delivering 288 hp and 317 Nm, which makes, according to the preparer, 1018 hp and a monstrous maximum torque of 1291 Nm.
Even considering the RS6's large dimensions and its weight — the electrical component adds 200 kg to the 2025 kg of the series model — it doesn't prevent it from truly ballistic performances. The 100 km/h is dispatched in just 3.3s (-0.4s than the RS6 standard) and the top speed goes from a limited 250 km/h to a 320 km/h worthy of a supercar — not bad for a family van…
However, even so, those 3.3s “know how little” — these are the times we live in where 3.3s feels like little — considering the advertised power and torque, and of course, the presence of the quattro system. Expectations would say that a value below 3.0s would be realistically possible. But we quickly understand the reason for such value when we understand how the RS6-E hybrid works.
Electrons on request
The electrical component on the RS6-E, unlike other hybrid proposals, is not automatically available. In fact, we can only access the power of the electrons through a button on the steering wheel, and only from 100 km/h — 3.3s up to 100 km/h are achieved only and “only” with the combustion engine's 730 hp.
In other words, it doesn't resemble other hybrid systems that we know, in fact, it looks like a temporary boost system. The closest analogy we can find is that ABT created the 16th century equivalent. XXI to a bottle of Nitro (nitrous oxide), or NOS, to be furiously emptied towards the nearest combustion chamber — à la Fast and the Furious… forget about the desire to reduce emissions, or to save polar bears or penguins…
Why only after 100 km/h can we use this e-boost? According to ABT, the RS6 could not handle such high numbers from startup. The e-boost, moreover, only works for 10s, with the 13.6 kWh batteries having enough charge for 20 consecutive uses — the RS6-E is equipped with energy recovery systems so that there is always “juice” in them.
Truth be told, although more than 1000 hp is only available on demand and in short periods of time, performance is not lacking in the RS6-E. And the e-boost is quite notorious, as the video shows, with the powerful RS6-E reaching 300 km/h with relative ease, to the excitement of its occupants.
Glimpse of the future?
Is this RS6-E a glimpse of what we can expect from the future of tuning? In the short and medium term, we will be invaded by “reams” of electric, hybrid and semi-hybrid, so there is no lack of opportunity for solutions of this type in the search for more performance.
As for the RS6-E, it remains for now as a prototype, and also demonstrates ABT's efforts in the field of electrification — the preparer has been increasingly active in this area, even being present in Formula E through Audi.