by Brad Anderson
- Audi’s next RS6 crashed during testing at the Nurburgring.
- Prototype understeered into a tire barrier on a right-hand corner.
- A 771-hp plug-in V8 from Bentley remains a real possibility.
Audi Sport models have come a long way in recent years, largely banishing their reputation for understeer thanks to the advanced rear torque splitter first introduced in the 2022 RS3. One of the company’s most exciting new models will be the next RS6, but it looks like some extra work is needed to get rid of the tendency to push wide during hard cornering.
Several prototypes of the new RS6 have been spotted out and about in recent months, including at the Nurburgring. While very few owners of the new RS6 will ever take their cars to a track, the circuit provides Audi with the perfect place to iron out any issues before releasing it to the public.
Read: Audi’s New RS6 Could Steal Its V8 From A Very Different Brand
During the most recent round of testing, a test driver pushed the car a little too hard, understeering around a right-hand corner and smashing into a tire barrier. Fortunately, the tires appear to have cushioned some of the impact, but some suspension damage was likely done to the car. Shortly after the impact, the driver can be seen talking on his handheld radio, no doubt informing the Audi team of his embarrassing faux pas.
While it’d be easy to point fingers and laugh at the crash as being triggered by the kind of understeer Audi models of old experienced, it’s impossible to know if Audi was testing certain systems at the time that may have impacted the car’s handling. Based on early reports on how the latest-generation RS5 handles, we are confident that any understeer gremlins will be sorted before the car hits the market.
What Powers It?
Technical specifications remain uncertain, and it’s not yet known if Audi will downsize the RS6 from a V8 to a V6, potentially using the same plug-in hybrid 2.9-liter as the RS5. A more exciting proposition is for it to use the same twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 plug-in hybrid as the Bentley Continental GT Speed, currently rated at 771 hp and 738 lb-ft, giving the car more than enough grunt to rival the BMW M5.
