Categories: Auto News

Secret Audi RS6 prototype crashes on Nürburgring during testing

Tests of the new Audi RS6 super-station wagon turned into an accident on the legendary Nurburgring track. The incident has again raised an old question about the tendency of Audi’s all-wheel drive models to understeer, Carscoops reports.

The footage published online shows how a camouflaged prototype of the future RS6 enters a right turn, loses its trajectory, drives straight into a wall of tires and breaks the front part of the body. Fortunately, the tires softened the blow, but the suspension was most likely seriously damaged. Immediately after the collision, the test driver took out his radio and reported to the Audi team what had happened.

For fans of the brand, this episode looks especially piquant. For many years, Audi engineers have been struggling with the effect of “understeer,” when the car refuses to turn on an arc and goes straight into the bump stop. The situation was radically corrected by the advanced rear differential, which debuted on the RS3 in 2022. However, the incident at the Nürburgring shows that the new RS6 may still have some work to do.

However, Carscoops journalists urge not to rush to conclusions. It is unknown in what mode the car was tested and whether some of the electronic systems were deliberately disabled. Given the successes of the latest generation Audi RS5, we are confident that the problem will be resolved before the model enters the market.

The main intrigue of the new RS6 is the power plant. There is no exact data yet whether Audi will retain its proprietary eight-cylinder engine. According to one version, the company may switch to a 2.9-liter V6 with a rechargeable hybrid system (like the new RS5). However, a more exciting prediction is the use of the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 with a hybrid system from the Bentley Continental GT Speed. There this engine produces 771 hp. and 1000 Nm of torque, which will allow the new RS6 to easily compete with the BMW M5.