New Audi RS6 Avant Crashes During Nürburgring Testing, May Switch to V6 Hybrid

The all-new Audi RS6 Avant was involved in an accident during its final road testing at Germany’s Nürburgring circuit. The car lost control at high speed and collided with a tire barrier, sustaining minor exterior damage but was still able to drive off the track at low speed. The vehicle is currently in the late-stage development and fine-tuning phase. The powertrain for the new model has not yet been finalized. Traditionally equipped with a V8 engine, this test prototype emitted an exhaust note similar to the current RS5’s 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6, lacking the distinctive deep growl of a V8. Given Europe’s increasingly stringent emissions regulations, Audi may abandon the V8 altogether in favor of a plug-in hybrid system. This shift would significantly increase the vehicle’s weight—consider that the RS5 Avant already weighs 2,370 kg curb weight, and the larger RS6 is expected to be even heavier. Audi plans to launch both the RS6 Avant wagon and a sedan variant later this year. The sedan marks a return to the lineup, replacing the discontinued RS7 Sportback. Both models will directly compete against the corresponding versions of the BMW M5. While the BMW M5 also adopts a plug-in hybrid setup, it retains its V8 configuration. Meanwhile, Mercedes-AMG has stated it will continue using V8 engines, despite currently having no E63 model on sale. Additionally, Audi’s product lineup adjustments this year include the introduction of an all-new Q7 and the debut of its first Q9 SUV, the revival of the A2 as a fully electric model, and the discontinuation of the A1 city car and Q2 compact SUV.