What is it?
You might not have heard of a ‘sleeper’ car before, but essentially it’s a powerful performance machine hidden beneath some pretty normal looks. Audi’s RS6 – the brand’s iconic performance estate – has for years been the definition of the ultimate sleeper. That is until this arrived. Meet the RS6 GT, which is certainly not for the shy and retiring.
This ultra-rare RS6 has look-at-me graphics, a whopping spoiler, impossible-to-keep-clean white wheels and a ferociously vicious 4.0-litre V8 under the bonnet. What’s not to love?
What’s new?
This ultra-exclusive load-lugger was dreamt up by a team of 12 Audi apprentices who designed the GT during a six-month secondment to Audi’s Sport department. They never thought it would make production, but bosses loved their concept so much they agreed to a limited run. Just 660 models will be made globally and only 60 of those will find their way to the UK.
There are plenty of design touches to mark it out from the standard RS6. These include those lairy decals, deep side skirts, prominent front splitter and huge wheels. The bonnet is made from carbon fibre to save weight as are those huge flared arches.
What’s under the bonnet?
The savage 4.0-litre V8 delivers 621bhp and can produce 850Nm of torque. These figures give it huge mid range grunt for overtaking and breathtaking acceleration.
The GT can hit 60mph in 3.3 seconds and 124mph in just 10.5 seconds – all while carrying a wardrobe in the massive boot. It has an eight speed automatic gearbox that rifles through the gears.
What’s it like to drive?
Engineers have focussed their efforts on making this huge car feel even more sporty, so there’s adjustable suspension and a new differential that has been tuned for a rear-wheel bias. This is still a four-wheel drive car, but in dynamic mode can be adjusted to perform more like a rear-wheel drive model. On the road, it is blisteringly quick.
It sounds angry from the minute you fire it up, sparking into life with a rally car-style bark. Overall, it feels sharper than the standard model almost everywhere but can be a little hard over the bumps.
What’s it like inside?
There’s a distinct performance car feel to the interior of the GT. New RS bucket seats grip your hips, the red seat belts add a sense of drama and there’s some smart honeycomb stitching in the seats.
The current multimedia system from the standard model is carried across which gives you CarPlay and Android Auto and its touchscreen is easy to use.
What’s the spec like?
For a car costing £176,975, the specification is understandably generous. Most of it focuses on the looks and performance – with high performance extras under the bonnet, tweaks to the suspension and differential not coming cheap.
And if you’re wondering where the roof rails have gone, they’ve been removed for the first time ever on an RS6 to give it a “flatter and spotier silhouette”, says Audi.
Verdict
The standard RS6 is one of the best all-round cars ever made. Yes, it’s expensive but it combines sports car thrills with family car practicality and is just at home on a race track as it is taking the kids to school or the dogs to the park. But the RS6 GT is different.
It’s an ultra-high-performance version of a very special model and designed for those buyers who’ll spend more time attacking mountain passes than Morrisons. This is 90% sports car and 10% family car and certainly no sleeper. In fact, we’d go as far as to say this RS6 has a serious case of insomnia.
- Model: Audi RS6 GT
- Base price: £176,975
- Engine: 4.0-litre V8
- Power: 621bhp
- Torque: 850Nm
- Max speed: 190mph
- 0-60mph: 3.3 seconds
- MPG: 23.2
- Emissions: 277g/km
