You may be forgiven for believing SUVs have fully cannibalized wagon sales, except there are unicorns like the Audi RS6 that will severely punish you for thinking that. And Ingolstadt is preparing to turn up the heat, as shown by this extreme 2025 Audi RS6 Avant prototype, tentatively called GT.
Audi is almost ready to release the mid-cycle revamp of the current fifth-generation A6 (C8). And since the “standard” C8 Audi RS6 (not this sedan one-off) has marked the badge’s return to the US market for the 2021 model year, the 2025 RS6 Avant GT spied here is relevant for American customers.
Peeking through the psychedelic wrap on the test car, we notice the RS6 Avant GT features redesigned air intakes up front, along with a new lip spoiler. In addition, the wider front fenders, with their vertical slats sitting just before the front doors, could point to a wider track.
The posterior aero updates are even more significant, mostly thanks to the super-sized roof spoiler. This, along with the said widebody treatment, is a reference to the RS6 GTO concept Audi showcased in 2020 to celebrate 40 years of quattro and pay homage to its famous Audi 90 IMSA GTO racecar of 1989. Plus, if we look between the massive dual oval exhaust tips of the prototype, we notice a redesigned diffuser with three vertical fins.
The meanest wagon Audi currently sells in the US is the 2024 RS6 Avant Performance. And while the 2025 RS6 Avant GT will outgun it, the carmaker’s traditional GT treatment, as seen on the now-discontinued R8 supercar, relies on weight savings and added downforce more than anything else.
So you can expect the 2025 RS6 Avant GT to sport a modest bump over the 621 hp and 627 lb-ft offered by the twin-turbo 4.0L V8 of the 2024 RS6 Performance. The latter needs 3.3s to hit 60 mph, while its top speed is limited to either 155 mph or 174 mph (Bronze Edition).
The Performance treatment already brings larger turbos, less sound insulation, a tweaked self-locking center differential, and an overall setup that makes the Autobahm monster a bit more tail-happy. Expect these characteristics to become even sharper for the production version of the 2025 RS6 Avant GT.
One of the likely changes involves a lower ride height—hey, a tuner built this lifted Audi RS6 C8 “allroad”. And while the RS6 remains a heavy beast, the GT model should shed a bit of weight via carbon body panels and even lighter wheels.
The most recent prototype sighting of the hottest Audi RS6 Avant ever took place in Germany—the red RS6 Avant GT pics come courtesy of flog.sse (via audittsquattro and wilkoblok).
Audi will unleash the 2025 RS6 Avant GT (remember, the name hasn’t been confirmed yet) next year. And since the RS6 Performance has a starting price of $126,895, the uber-wagon that is the GT should be sold for upwards of $150,000.
