Page 59 - MotorTrend (March 2020)
P. 59
FIRST DRIVE
AUDI BRINGS TWO HIGH-POWERED,
SHARP-HANDLING FAMILY HAULERS TO MARKET
COURSES
WORDS JONNY LIEBERMAN
any moons ago in Utah, I sat It’s fast, it’s fabulous, it’s packed with
incredulous as an angry Volvo wonder, it’s gorgeous, and if you’re a fairly
Memployee told me wagons were rich American, you’ll be able to buy one
dead in America. I needed to—the now around late summer 2020.
former employee told me—get over my Let’s start with the gorgeous, and
weird fixation. (Or did he say fetish?) why exactly the RS 6 looks oh so good.
Either way, Volvo was out of the wagon The only body panels shared with a
business. Other brands followed suit, run-of-the-mill A6 Avant are the front
including both Bavarian brands, Audi and doors, roof, and tailgate. Everything else
BMW. SUVs had won. Move along. requires unique stamping. Another part
Times change, however, and Volvo of what makes the RS 6 so hot is that the
now offers U.S. consumers no fewer than big signature Audi grille is now frame-
four station wagons. Just two years ago I less, matching the look of the brand’s
leased an Audi A4 Allroad. Product plan- range-topping halo vehicle, the R8.
ning, it must be said, is much less science The first ever RS product, the RS 2
than art. wagon, was co-developed by Porsche.
This preamble leads us to another new Also, Audi builds the R8 and owns
entrant in the American long-roof scene: Lamborghini. The design intent was to
the all-new Audi RS 6. Technically, it’s the get all that across. To my eyes, Audi’s big
The RS Q8 (top) and RS 6 (bottom) RS 6 Avant, but there isn’t an RS 6 sedan hammer nailed it. If the RS 6 isn’t the
share significant portions of the Audi
component set, but their audiences anymore, so all you have to say is RS 6. best-looking wagon of all time, it’s close.
likely will be quite different.
MARCH 2020 MOTORTREND.COM 59
