2008 Audi RS6 Avant: Perfection from a Station Wagon

To quote the man himself, "It's fast, practical and not at all ostentatious." His final conclusion was, however improbably, the Subaru Legacy Outback.

We beg Mr. Clarkson reconsider. Not that weakling RS4, heavens no. Audi has presented a new contender, and it's the most powerful road car they have ever built. Burly fender flares give away the car's insidious intentions, powered by a 571 hp, 5.2 LV10 lifted from the Lamborghini Gallardo (the engine should also see service in the 2009 Audi R8 sports car). And please note, compared to the Audi, the Lambo seems diminished, with .2 liters less displacement and a mere 512 hp. For shame, Lamborghini!
Acceleration from 0-62 (that's 100 kph for you metric types) comes in 4.6 seconds. That's pretty quick for a station wagon.

Excuse us, an estate car. Gotta love the Europeans' Ceramic brakes will be an option with 20-inch wheels. Unless you plan on a shakedown cruise running some hot laps at the Nurburgring, we think the stock spec steel stoppers and 19-inch wheels will be preferable, based on daily driving experiences with other cars equipped with ceramic discs. The RS6 also gets all-wheel drive and the RS4's Dynamic Ride Control auto-dampening system. An optional three-stage suspension system, allowing for driver-controlled settings according to road conditions, will also be available.

The wicked wagon will make its public debut at Frankfurt Motor  Show and will go on sale next April -- but only in Germany. The New York Times reports it will actually see light of day in the United States, regardless of our usual aversion to all things station wagon.

Oh, and cost? The RS6 Avant in basic trim will set the casual customer back about 100,000 Euros. Figuring our expected cost is never especially clear cut, but expect to pay well above that mark in good old greenbacks if you want to park Audi's monster wagon in your garage.