Audi RS6

Audi RS6: which generation changed what

Peak rpm is not measured on 4.0 AT GT and on 4 generation 4.0 AT 630 hp. Compression is not measured on 1 generation 4.2 AT 95 octane. Bore × stroke is not measured on that same 4.2 AT. Eco class and CO₂ are not measured on both 2 generation 5.0 AT versions and both 1 generation 4.2 AT versions.

1 generation (2002-01-01–2006-12-31) is Sedan only, two 4.2 AT versions, both 450 hp / 331 kW, 560 Nm, 4172 cm³, 8 cylinders, V-shaped, 5 valves per cylinder, Turbo, Front, longitudinal, Distributed injection (multi-point), 5-speed Automatic, AWD. Specific output is 450 ÷ 4.172 ≈ 107.9 hp per litre. Kerb weight per horsepower is 1810 ÷ 450 = 4.02 kg/hp on the 95-octane car and 1865 ÷ 450 = 4.14 kg/hp on the 98-octane car — the worst kg/hp figures in the catalogue.

2 generation (2007-01-01–2012-12-31) stays Sedan and is the only generation with 10 cylinders. Both versions are named 5.0 AT, both 580 hp / 426 kW, 650 Nm, 4991 cm³, Turbo, Distributed injection (multi-point), 6-speed Automatic, AWD. Specific output rises to 580 ÷ 4.991 ≈ 116.2 hp per litre. Versus 1 generation 4.2 AT, that is +130 hp and +90 Nm on +819 cm³, 0–100 km/h drops from 4.9 s to 4.5 s or 4.6 s, and mixed consumption moves from 14.6 L/100 km to 13.9 or 14.0 L/100 km.

3 generation (2012-08-01–2014-12-31, restyling 2014-01-01–2018-12-31) is the body change: Estate 5-door, and the engine change: 8 cylinders, V-shaped, 3993 cm³, Direct injection (direct), 8-speed Automatic. Restyling is not a sixth generation; it is the same 3 generation with two extra 4.0 AT versions. Pre-restyle 4.0 AT 560 hp already does 3.9 s to 100 km/h — 0.6–0.7 s faster than 2 generation 5.0 AT — at 1935 kg versus 1985–2025 kg. Mixed consumption falls to 9.8 L/100 km from 13.9–14.0 L/100 km (3.1–4.2 L/100 km less). Restyling then adds a 4.0 AT 605 hp (3.7 s) and keeps a 4.0 AT 560 hp (3.9 s), both at 1950 kg, both 9.6 L/100 km mixed, both Euro 6 instead of Euro 5.

4 generation (from 2019-01-01, no stop date) stays Estate 5-door and stays 8 cylinders, V-shaped, Turbo, Direct injection (direct), 8-speed Automatic, AWD, but displacement is 3996 cm³, torque jumps to 800 or 850 Nm, and kerb weight jumps to 2090 or 2150 kg. Versus restyle 4.0 AT 605 hp, the current 4.0 AT 600 hp is 5 hp down, 100 Nm up, 200 kg up (2150 − 1950), and 0.1 s faster (3.6 s vs 3.7 s). Mixed consumption rises from 9.6 to 12.9 L/100 km (+3.3 L/100 km). From November 2022 the same generation adds 4.0 AT 630 hp (3.4 s, 305 km/h) and 4.0 AT GT (3.3 s, 305 km/h).

Specs: every version named as in the database

Peak rpm is not measured on 4.0 AT GT and on 4 generation 4.0 AT 630 hp. Compression is not measured on 1 generation 4.2 AT 95 octane. Bore × stroke is not measured on that same 4.2 AT. Eco class and CO₂ are not measured on both 2 generation 5.0 AT versions and both 1 generation 4.2 AT versions.

Specific output, hp per litre: 4.0 AT GT and 4.0 AT 630 hp 630 ÷ 3.996 ≈ 157.7; 4 generation 4.0 AT 600 hp 150.2; restyle 4.0 AT 605 hp 151.5; all three 4.0 AT 560 hp cars 140.2; both 5.0 AT 116.2; both 4.2 AT 107.9. The current GT and 630 hp cars extract about 50 hp per litre more than 1 generation.

Performance and mpg: what the extra horsepower actually buys

4.0 AT GT is the fastest 0–100 km/h figure in the file: 3.3 s, top speed 305 km/h. 4 generation 4.0 AT 630 hp is 0.1 s slower (3.4 s) at the same 305 km/h, same 850 Nm, same 2090 kg. Those 0.1 s are the whole measured gap between GT and the 630 hp 4.0 AT. City / highway / mixed consumption is identical: 21.5 / 10.9 / 12.9 L/100 km, CO₂ 293 g/km, Euro 6, 73 L tank.

4 generation 4.0 AT 600 hp (from 2019-01-01) is the same displacement and the same 21.5 / 10.9 / 12.9 L/100 km and 293 g/km. What 30 hp and 50 Nm less buy you is not economy: they buy a 250 km/h cap instead of 305 km/h, 3.6 s instead of 3.3–3.4 s, and 2150 kg instead of 2090 kg. Versus GT that is +60 kg and +0.3 s. Power-to-weight: 2150 ÷ 600 = 3.58 kg/hp against 2090 ÷ 630 = 3.32 kg/hp on the 630 hp pair.

Restyle 4.0 AT 605 hp (2014-01-01–2018-12-31) is the economy champion among high-power cars: 13.4 / 7.4 / 9.6 L/100 km, 223 g/km, Euro 6, 3.7 s, 250 km/h, 1950 kg. Versus current 4.0 AT 600 hp it is +5 hp, −100 Nm, −200 kg, +0.1 s, and −3.3 L/100 km mixed. 1950 ÷ 605 = 3.22 kg/hp — better kg/hp than every 4 generation car. The sibling restyle 4.0 AT 560 hp shares the same 700 Nm, same 9.6 L/100 km, same 1950 kg; 45 hp less costs 0.2 s (3.9 s vs 3.7 s). 1950 ÷ 560 = 3.48 kg/hp.

Pre-restyle 3 generation 4.0 AT 560 hp matches the restyle 560 hp on 3.9 s, 250 km/h, 700 Nm and 560 hp, but uses 98 octane, Euro 5, 13.9 / 7.5 / 9.8 L/100 km, 229 g/km, a 65 L tank, 1935 kg, and compression 10.1 versus 9.3 after restyling. Restyling therefore buys Euro 6, 95 octane, −0.5 / −0.1 / −0.2 L/100 km, −6 g/km CO₂, +10 L of tank, and +15 kg, with no change in 0–100 km/h on the 560 hp cars.

2 generation 5.0 AT 4.5 s (1985 kg) versus 5.0 AT 4.6 s (2025 kg): same 580 hp, same 650 Nm, same 250 km/h. The heavier car is 40 kg up, 0.1 s slower, and uses 20.4 / 10.3 / 14.0 L/100 km against 20.3 / 10.2 / 13.9 L/100 km. That is the entire measured difference between the two 5.0 AT names. Both are slower to 100 km/h than every 8-cylinder RS6 from 3 generation onward.

1 generation 4.2 AT (both 4.9 s, 250 km/h) is 1.6 s slower than 4.0 AT GT and 1.0 s slower than restyle 4.0 AT 560 hp. Mixed 14.6 L/100 km is the highest in the file — 5.0 L/100 km above restyle 9.6 and 1.7 L/100 km above current 12.9. City 21.8 L/100 km is 0.3 L/100 km above current 4 generation city 21.5.

Theoretical mixed range (tank ÷ mixed × 100): restyle 75 ÷ 9.6 × 100 ≈ 781 km; pre-restyle 65 ÷ 9.8 × 100 ≈ 663 km; 2 generation 80 ÷ 13.9 × 100 ≈ 576 km and 80 ÷ 14.0 × 100 ≈ 571 km; 4 generation 73 ÷ 12.9 × 100 ≈ 566 km; 1 generation 82 ÷ 14.6 × 100 ≈ 562 km. The restyle 4.0 AT cars go farthest on one tank in this arithmetic; current cars sit next to 1 generation despite a smaller tank, because mixed consumption is 12.9 against 14.6.

Dimensions and weight: payload, clearance, wheels

Kerb weight order, lightest first: 1 generation 4.2 AT 95 octane 1810 kg; 4.2 AT 98 octane 1865 kg; 3 generation 4.0 AT 1935 kg; restyle both 4.0 AT 1950 kg; 2 generation 5.0 AT 4.5 s 1985 kg; 5.0 AT 4.6 s 2025 kg; 4.0 AT GT and 4 generation 4.0 AT 630 hp 2090 kg; 4 generation 4.0 AT 600 hp 2150 kg. The current 600 hp estate is 340 kg heavier than the lightest 4.2 AT.

Gross weight: 4 generation 4.0 AT 600 hp 2740 kg (payload 2740 − 2150 = 590 kg). Gross is not measured on 4.0 AT GT and not measured on 4 generation 4.0 AT 630 hp, so payload for those two is not measured. Restyle both 4.0 AT: 2580 − 1950 = 630 kg. Pre-restyle 4.0 AT: 2565 − 1935 = 630 kg. 5.0 AT 4.5 s: 2565 − 1985 = 580 kg. 5.0 AT 4.6 s: 2655 − 2025 = 630 kg. 4.2 AT 95: 2300 − 1810 = 490 kg. 4.2 AT 98: 2355 − 1865 = 490 kg. The 630 kg payload band is restyle 4.0 AT, pre-restyle 4.0 AT, and the heavier 5.0 AT; the 490 kg band is both 1 generation cars.

Ground clearance is 120 mm on 4 generation (all three versions), both 5.0 AT, and both 4.2 AT. Restyle 4.0 AT is 110 mm — 10 mm lower. Clearance is not measured on pre-restyle 3 generation 4.0 AT. Wheel sizes are not measured on any version.

Front / rear suspension: 4 generation Independent, pneumatic / Independent, pneumatic on all three. Restyle Independent, pneumatic / Independent, spring. Pre-restyle Independent, pneumatic / Independent, pneumatic. 2 generation and 1 generation Independent, spring / Independent, spring. Front brakes Ventilated disc and rear Disc ventilated on every version.

Tank: 82 L (1 generation), 80 L (2 generation), 75 L (restyle), 73 L (4 generation), 65 L (pre-restyle 3 generation). The smallest tank is on the generation with the second-best mixed figure (9.8 L/100 km).

Which version to choose

Need the shortest 0–100 km/h and 305 km/h: 4.0 AT GT (630 hp, 850 Nm, 3.3 s, 2090 kg) or 4 generation 4.0 AT 630 hp (same power and torque, 3.4 s, 2090 kg). GT’s measured advantage is 0.1 s. Consumption, tank, CO₂, Euro 6, AWD, Automatic 8, and 120 mm clearance do not separate them. Peak rpm is not measured on either. Gross weight is not measured on either.

Need a current Estate 5-door and will take 250 km/h: 4 generation 4.0 AT 600 hp. You give up 30 hp, 50 Nm, 55 km/h of top speed and 0.2–0.3 s versus the 630 hp pair, and you carry 60 kg more, for no change in 21.5 / 10.9 / 12.9 L/100 km. You do get a measured gross weight (2740 kg) and 590 kg payload, which the 630 hp pair do not list.

Need the best measured mpg and still under 4.0 s to 100 km/h: restyle 4.0 AT 605 hp (3.7 s, 9.6 L/100 km mixed, 223 g/km, 1950 kg, 3.22 kg/hp). If 605 hp is not required, restyle 4.0 AT 560 hp is the same 9.6 L/100 km, same 1950 kg, same 630 kg payload, 0.2 s slower. Both take 95 octane. Both sit 10 mm lower (110 mm) than 4 generation.

Need Estate 5-door on a smaller tank and Euro 5: pre-restyle 3 generation 4.0 AT 560 hp — 3.9 s, 1935 kg, 65 L, 9.8 L/100 km mixed, 98 octane, clearance not measured. Versus restyle 560 hp you lose 10 L of tank, 0.2 L/100 km mixed, Euro 6, and you gain 15 kg less kerb weight and rear Independent, pneumatic instead of Independent, spring.

Need 10 cylinders and Sedan: either 2 generation 5.0 AT. Choose the 1985 kg / 4.5 s / 13.9 L/100 km mixed car over the 2025 kg / 4.6 s / 14.0 L/100 km car unless the 630 kg payload (versus 580 kg) is the point. CO₂ and eco class are not measured. Gearbox is 6-speed Automatic, not 8.

Need the lowest kerb weight: 1 generation 4.2 AT 95 octane at 1810 kg (4.02 kg/hp), 5-speed Automatic, 5 valves per cylinder, compression not measured, bore × stroke not measured. The 98-octane 4.2 AT is 55 kg heavier (1865 kg), lists compression 9.3 and 84.5 × 93, and matches 4.9 s, 250 km/h, 21.8 / 10.4 / 14.6 L/100 km. Payload is 490 kg on both — the lowest in the file.

What later generations do not buy: they do not buy lower mixed consumption after 2018 (12.9 vs 9.6). They do not buy a larger tank than 1 generation (73 L vs 82 L). They do not buy lower kerb weight than 2002–2006. They do buy more hp per litre (157.7 vs 107.9), more torque (850 Nm vs 560 Nm), 8 gears instead of 5, Estate 5-door instead of Sedan from 3 generation on, and, on the 630 hp pair, 305 km/h instead of 250 km/h. Wheel size is not measured anywhere, so tyre choice cannot decide the purchase from this catalogue.