Audi says its new RS6 is the only car you’ll ever need. We test the theory by lining up our ‘dream garage’ for the same price
We’ve always been told you can’t have your cake and eat it. But now, Audi claims it has created the only car you will need.
The RS6 Avant is the most powerful production Audi ever made. It combines thrilling pace with the practicality and comfort of a luxury estate, and bosses claim it redefines the supercar.
Power comes from a 5.0-litre twin-turbo V10 with 572bhp and 650Nm of torque – making the RS6 the world’s fastest-accelerating five-door estate. And yet it still has a roomy and sumptuous cabin, plus a huge 565-litre boot.
None of this comes cheap, though – in Avant form, the Audi costs £77,730. So we’ve devised a special challenge for it, assembling three different cars which, together, add up to the same price as this flagship Audi. Is it better to own a jack of all trades or spread your motoring needs?
First up, any performance car has to engage, involve and excite the driver. So is the RS6 as fun on a track as Caterham’s Roadsport 150 Sigma? Barely changed in concept since 1957’s original Lotus Seven, it follows the classic formula of simple technology and low weight to deliver an undiluted driving experience.
On a stretch of country road, Nissan’s 350Z coupé blends character, pace and a tuneful V6 with more refinement than the Caterham. So you have an old-school muscle car and a lightweight track star – but you still need the space, versatility and practicality of a great estate.
Step forward Ford’s Mondeo 2.2 TDCi Titanium X, which offers excellent pace, a big boot, lots of kit and superb handling. The question is whether we’d choose the Audi over a dream garage housing this trio. So read on as we deliver our verdict.