It’s not often that a beloved family of cars doesn’t get a bit of fanfare when it turns a big age. Audi knows the RS 6 is 20 this year – having posted about it on its media channels – but hasn’t commemorated it with any special editions. Step forward prominent Audi racers and tuners, ABT, with the RS6 Legacy Edition which is claimed to be the ‘crowning glory of 20 years of RS 6 history’. Strong words.
As you’d expect, there’s a fairly comprehensive suite of upgrades, including new turbos, a fettled ECU, a more powerful intercooler and more. Of course, packing 760PS (559kW) is nothing new for an ABT-tuned RS6.
Nor is a sweeping kit of carbon-fibre body enhancements for the bonnet, splitter, skirts, wing and diffuser, though the upgrades for the LE are special. That wing, those 22-inch wheels and the vented bonnet especially mark it out, with the latter going through German type approval safety tests.
There are other Legacy Edition touches that set it apart too. Open the vented bonnet and you’ll see atop the engine cover scripture celebrating its 20 years and the V8 powerplant, reading ‘V8 Legacy Edition RS6 ABT’, with two pistons showing the formula.
On the inside there’s plenty of badging to make sure you know it’s one of the 200 RS6 LEs to be made. Under the skin there’s also new ABT coilover suspension and bespoke anti-roll bars, so while no amount of tuning will make it a featherweight, it’ll at least be focused and controlled. Needless to say, the performance figures are striking, with the 62mph sprint taking just 3.1 seconds. There’s no top speed stated but we’d surprised if this bombastic wagon wouldn’t do the double-tonne de-restricted.
Obviously those quad exhaust tips should give the ABT LE healthy vocals, over and above those of the standard Audi RS 6. So what do you think of the ABT Legacy Edition? Should it be Audi that does more to celebrate? Perhaps, but we’re glad ABT are waving the RS6 flag for now. Is this the last gasp for the V8? It surely feels like we’re nearing a conclusion of sorts…
Report by Ethan Jupp
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