[subterFUSE]

Unfortunately, it appears Audi has announced the next gen RS6 (which will be renamed the RS7 Avant) will not have the 4.0T V8 anymore.

They will be downsizing to a V6 PHEV.


That's the nail in the coffin for me. I was hoping it would still have a V8.

At this point, I'm probably leaning towards a Mercedes S580 to replace my Audi S8 when that lease runs out.

[Remigijus]

There was speculations about ditching V8 which is why V6 is also would be a dealbreaker.

It's sad looking at what Audi is doing recently. Looks like this outgoing gen was the peak Audi.

"Car Magazine reports that whereas the ‘baby’ RS6 will produce approximately 600 hp, Audi could fit the RS7 with a more powerful electric motor, allowing it and the V6 to deliver a combined 725 hp. That would almost perfectly match the new BMW M5 that delivers 717 hp through its plug-in hybrid V8 and give us one epic rivalry."

https://www.carscoops.com/2025/01/th...p-v6-not-a-v8/

[subterFUSE]

I'm glad I picked up my 2023 R8.

But that's not my daily. Have a 2023 S8 for that, but the lease runs out in 1.5 years. I was watching the RS7 Avant news thinking it would be a possible replacement option, but not if they go to a V6.

I'm really surprised that Audi thinks they can be competitive against the M5 without a V8. Maybe in Europe they can, but no chance of that in the USA market.

[iifymbro]

[Crazy1323]

I bet the V6 will actually be a better car on paper, but I want to hear a V8! This seems kind of like the new C63 being a 4 cylinder with an electric motor, and no one really likes it.

This is also like when Porsche made the Cayenne S a V6 and a few years later said never mind and went back to the TT V8.

[subterFUSE]

Originally Posted by Crazy1323

I bet the V6 will actually be a better car on paper, but I want to hear a V8! This seems kind of like the new C63 being a 4 cylinder with an electric motor, and no one really likes it.

This is also like when Porsche made the Cayenne S a V6 and a few years later said never mind and went back to the TT V8.

Audi already bumped the C8 S6 to a V6, and I don’t think they sold as well as the C7 4.0T V8. I’d have to check sales stats, but I really don’t remember seeing many of them. I had a C7 S6 and liked it a lot. But I went to the F90 M5 after that because the C8 was a V6.

Germany is going to put their own auto industry on the ropes with their regulations. 🤦‍♂️

[CarlosM4]

If its the EA839 engine - its a brilliant engine. Not as good as the V8, but an epic engine nonetheless that is already used in many VAG cars. It has the benefit of shedding almost 100kg of weight to the V8, and a very strong top end.

If the car is lighter than the M5, then its a real contender. If not, then Audi messed up. Probably will be though given the Bentley Flying Spur is 60kg only over the M5 wth PHEV tech, based on VAG comparables. The Panamera is a little lighter to the M5 as well.

[matowi]

The list of desirable cars with a 6-cylinder engine is long, so not having a V8 may be less of a dealbreaker than most of us realize

They clearly learnt from the AMG flop with the 4-banger. As said above, a proper V6 mated to a smart and powerful electric motor may be on par in terms of performance and driving experience (responsiveness, dynamics) to a V8. It may also sound better (just compare the X5 40i to X5 M60i; I drive the latter and suffer humiliation with every cold start). And it most likely will be considerably lighter than a V8 M5

All things considered, it could be a compelling package with good looks (I’m judging by the way the new A6 avant looks, which I presume will donate a lot to the future A7, also in terms of overall form factor)

[EUPremier]

Originally Posted by subterFUSE

I'm glad I picked up my 2023 R8.

But that's not my daily. Have a 2023 S8 for that, but the lease runs out in 1.5 years. I was watching the RS7 Avant news thinking it would be a possible replacement option, but not if they go to a V6.

I'm really surprised that Audi thinks they can be competitive against the M5 without a V8. Maybe in Europe they can, but no chance of that in the USA market.

BMW are gonna sell a tonne of G9x in Europe precisely because they’ve retained the V8 and have equally hit a home run on the eco/climate piece with resulting tax benefits.

Be under no illusion about the importance of the S68 to Euro customers.

[EUPremier]

Originally Posted by subterFUSE

Audi already bumped the C8 S6 to a V6, and I don’t think they sold as well as the C7 4.0T V8. I’d have to check sales stats, but I really don’t remember seeing many of them. I had a C7 S6 and liked it a lot. But I went to the F90 M5 after that because the C8 was a V6.

Germany is going to put their own auto industry on the ropes with their regulations. 🤦‍♂️

The regulations aren’t German. They’re EU so affect every EU country. Obv. Germany has a big say but they can’t roll back climate legislation because some petrolheads don’t like the engines as much.

[iifymbro]

Originally Posted by EUPremier

BMW are gonna sell a tonne of G9x in Europe precisely because they’ve retained the V8 and have equally hit a home run on the eco/climate piece with resulting tax benefits.

Be under no illusion about the importance of the S68 to Euro customers.

yeh BMW looking like geniuses right now for being able to keep the S68 under the hood

[masd79]

Originally Posted by iifymbro

yeh BMW looking like geniuses right now for being able to keep the S68 under the hood

Not geniuses, just normal. All Audi had to do was jack up their prices with a v8 phev by 20k. Audis have always been expensive

[EUPremier]

Originally Posted by masd79

Not geniuses, just normal. All Audi had to do was jack up their prices with a v8 phev by 20k. Audis have always been expensive

I’ve never liked Audi infotainment & ergonomics. I respect their cars but they’re just not for me. As a result, I’m not terribly knowledgeable on what’s going on with Audi and why they’ve gone this route.

However, BMW made a fuss about the fact that the G60 platform was designed to accept any powertrain. So, any chassis off the line can take EV, PHEV, Diesel or Petrol.

Obv, G9x will differ a bit but it’s in the same family.

I wonder in the RS6 /7 chassis have Audi baked in limitations that cannot be overcome without a whole new design that prevents PHEV + V8 being successfully combined?