(QQ, Spring 2003) — "Like Steve McQueen, all we need's a fast machine, and we're gonna make it all right."
S. Crow

Steve McQueen, in his ultimate coolness, will forever be associated with Porsches and Porsche racing. If, he were still around today, he would probably choose an Audi RS6 for his sedan enjoyment pleasure. And why not? Audi's R8 race car is considered by many to be the spiritual successor to Porsche's '70s dominating 917s, and the 80's dominating 962s. So much so that during Le Mans 2001 the announcers referred to Stefan Johansson's powder blue and orange, Gulf liveried, Audi R8 as a "Gulf Porsche!"

Having recently spent some time driving the RS6 on public roads and at the track, I wanted to provide an update on what is turning out to be a very popular car. Have you checked out eBay recently? RS6 dealer waiting list spots have been selling for as high as $15,000! Although it had been almost eight months, I was still as impressed with the RS6's performance: acceleration, braking, and handling. All are at least as good, or better than, I remember from my June '02 test drive.

Sad, but true, prudence, and the bottom line, dictate that only about 1,000, or perhaps a few more given actual demand, RS6 sedans will make it to the states in 2003. Worldwide RS6 production is currently targeted at about 9,000 units. Maximum daily production is 25. There will be no RS6 for Canada because of the business case and economic viability, including Canadian front bumper impact damage limit requirements).

The motor continues to impress. Acceleration times of: 0 to 62 mph in 4.7 seconds, although it feels like less if you do a brake stand to lock up the torque converter and rev it past 2,250 for hole shots, 0 to 125 mph in 17.6 seconds, 45 to 70 mph in 3.1 seconds (oh the HUMANITY!), and 70 to 105 mph in 6.7 seconds. Some technical items of note: there is a 0.4 bar pressure loss through the entire intake tract and the charge coolers themselves are 82% efficient at full load. The two K04 turbochargers put out a maximum boost of 0.80 bar at the intake manifold, at sea level, to produce 450 bhp. Just like every other Audi turbo car in the modern era of digital motor electronics, the ECU altitude compensates to keep the power output constant up to a set altitude, about 4,000 feet for the RS6, by turning up the boost. Above this set point, the ECU will begin to dial-back the boost in an effort to prevent the turbos from over spinning and operating outside of their efficiency range. Accordingly, above ~10,000 feet the boost is shut off. Again, this protocol is standard operating procedure for all of the currently available turbocharged Audi street cars.

plumbed in series with the main radiator. The turbo after run coolant circuit will draw coolant directly from the radiator as opposed to the engine block (as on Euro models). These changes are due to the extreme weather associated with certain US states. As such, the US RS6 motor is more expensive to manufacture than its Euro counterparts. The brakes and suspension are exactly the same, including the black calipers. The active charcoal filter takes up half of the spare tire well in the US cars. The battery is located in the cargo area (in euro cars the battery is in the front half of the spare tire well). Due to the size of the wheels and tires there is no spare, just an "Extended Mobility Kit," also known as a can of fix-a-flat.

Don't waste your time asking about manual tranny or US bound Avant versions (I have! www.petitiononline.com/RS6A/petition.html). It just isn't economically viable for Audi, given the target market demographic and projected domestic sales volumes. You can't even officially get a manual tranny S6 or S8 in Europe anymore! There currently is still no SMG type dual clutch Audi transmission that can handle the RS6's torque. The current TT unit is only set-up for transverse mounted applications. The transmission in sport setting is dramatically different than the drive setting, particularly as it pertains to third instead of fifth on overrun, after you have taken your foot off the gas and are slowing to a stop! I still maintain that the Tiptronic functionality is largely superfluous; just stick it in sport and concentrate on driving.

After the lack of an Avant, my biggest disappointment, because I know what we will be missing out on, is the lack of the Recaro Style seats. The US RS6 will come cosmetically enhanced, with a contrasting piping and embossed RS6 logos version of the A6-S6 sports seats. The Recaro style, side airbag equipped, seat as seen in several Euro models (including ROW RS6) is not federalized for use in the US (DOT strikes again!). Ignorance is, in fact, bliss, if you don't know what you are missing in this case. 

In addition to driving the RS6 on all manner of public roads and on a road course, I did get to spend a great deal of time with q GmbH's Stephan Reil. Stephan was Head of Development for the RS6 and the B5 RS4, and he worked on the C4 S6+ to boot. Stephan is a true enthusiast. He owns an RS4 and an RS6 sedan, both in Nimbus Grey on Moccasin with Piano Black) and is also a great driver. It was a rare treat to spend time with Stephan. I had many questions for him, and he was gracious and informative. 1. The DRC suspension is adapted, under license, from an anti-dive system that Yamaha invented for motorcycle use. 2) The RS6 is 10mm lower than the euro spec S6 and 30% firmer,. 3) The DRC suspension improves a 100km/h stop by a full meter. 4) Lowering the RS6 in the aftermarket will be a Herculean task as it isn't simply a matter of the traditional spring and shock swap as the hydraulic system is pressurized to 60 bar! For example, in Europe, quattro GmbH offers sports springs and matched DRC shocks for this purpose, that lower the vehicle an additional 8.0 mm, but even Stephan himself only drives the sports suspension for track work, citing a FIRM ride. The car handled the road course well, however even with the DRC working its magic, you can still feel that it is a 4,000+ pound vehicle. The standard suspension is very firm at low speeds and really comes into its own at higher speeds. For some perspective, during my formative years, I cut my teeth on an autocross prepped 914 that I used as a daily driver. Hence, most everything I have driven since has seemed to have a luxurious ride quality. The stock RS6 suspension will be too stiff for many, I think, particularly those who fit within the target demographic. If, on the other hand, your tastes lean towards H&R coilover type ride and performance, you'll be delighted with the RS6's. There will be no 19 inch wheel option from the factory for the US because of the quality of our roads.

The brakes continue to impress in every type of driving that I have done with the car (autobahn, city streets, and short course track work). General consensus from folks at Audi is that sport and perforated brake discs will be a stand alone US option. There are no "sport" pads a la RS4, however, that will be introduced post vehicle launch (Time to push your build date back?). Twelve journalists drove three RS6s at Firebird Raceway like they stole them-it isn't my car and I am going to drive the living snot out of it because I can, it is fun, and it isn't my dime-and there were zero issues with the brakes.

In the RS6 when the ESP is switched off, it is off. In every other Audi to date, including the B5 RS4, the confluence of a certain chassis attitude and application of the brakes will invoke the ESP, even though it has been switched off. Future RS models will share the finality of switching off ESP with the RS6.

The warm weather option package includes solar sunroof and power rear and manual side sunshades. Stand alone options currently include: navigation system, digital cell phone, rear side airbags, carbon fiber interior trim, and quattro GmbH sports exhaust, which is finished in matt black and it offers up rated middle resonators and rear mufflers. It is claimed to be only slightly louder and more apparent than the stock piece. Worth it for the matt black finish alone IMO). Side mirrors will not be available in body color in the US.

All in all the RS6 remains a highly desirable automobile. BMW's M5 does offer a manual transmission and may be more agile, and the E55 AMG may beat it at the drag strip, although perhaps not at altitude, but the RS6 is the total package, combining power, handling, best in class interior accoutrements, sure footedness, stealth appeal, and exclusivity. Perhaps nothing is as telling as Autoweek's closing thoughts from their RS6 coverage… "Understand, we try to be as objective as is humanly possible, but with this car we can find nary a flaw. It has the grunt of a race car and coddles occupants in world-class luxury. Audi's RS6 could be the all-around perfect balance of performance, comfort and automotive pleasure." As Sheryl Crow so eloquently puts it, "Like Steve McQueen, underneath your radar screen, you'll never catch us tonight." She sums it up so nicely, that she may as well have been singing about the RS6. This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it