Few cars match what’s on offer from the Audi RS6. It’s a practical wagon that also delivers a thunderous dosage of eight-cylinder excellence with a premium cabin to boot. However, one tuning firm – one which boasts a rich history of bettering even the best of the Audis – feels its found a way to improve upon the recipe.
The Audi RS6 Is No Slouch
2026 Audi RS6 AvantIan Wright/CarBuzz/Valnet
Audi first introduced the RS6 as the ultimate iteration of the C5-generation A6, for 2002. Gone was the selection of smooth and sensible four- and six-cylinder options, and in their place was shoehorned a twin-turbocharged 4.2-liter V8, with 450 horsepower on tap. That grunt was channeled through a five-speed automatic transmission, and directed toward all four wheels, via Audi’s now legendary quattro all-wheel drive system.
Over the generations, Audi has updated the RS6 accordingly, although the basic recipe of a practical and premium base plus massive engine hasn’t really changed that much, if at all. Case in point, the current iteration (our most recent review of which can be found here) sports a twin-turbocharged V8 engine, and the power from that is sent in the direction of all four wheels, via an automatic transmission. A very similar recipe indeed, albeit now with modern amenities and driver-assist technologies accompanying the package.
So, if the quarter-century-old RS6 sported 450 hp, and power has only continued to swell from there – the C8 generation kicks out 591 horses – it begs the question as to why tuned examples even exist at all; surely the standard package is fast enough? Storied German tuning house ABT Sportline disagrees, and so has been busy developing a comprehensive package that transforms the blisteringly quick stock RS6 into something even more impressive.
ABT Transforms Audi’s Flagship Avant Into A Genuine Supercar-Slayer
2026 ABT RS6-SABT
ABT called its creation the RS6-S. The tuning firm hasn’t looked to reinvent the wheel here, rather it seeks to only accentuate the RS6’s core strengths just a touch further, with a little tweak here, and a minor adjustment there. The long and short of it is ABT’s RS6-S sees power swell to 720 hp, or 740 hp should owners wish to take things a smidgen further, and that sees the RS6 jump from being blindingly quick “for a wagon” to just blindingly quick full-stop.
2026 ABT RS6-SABT
Its 0–60 mph time reportedly drops by roughly half a second, which is pretty substantial, considering the standard car already manages it in only 3.5 seconds. Later iterations of the RS6 receive a handy extra bump-up in torque too, thanks to a higher factory output. Here’s how the before and after figures compare for earlier and later cars:
- 2020–2023 Audi RS6: 591 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque standard, which becomes 720 hp and 664 lb-ft
- 2024+ Audi RS6: 621 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque as standard, which becomes 720 hp and 701 lb-ft
2026 ABT RS6-SABT
To put those figures into perspective, here’s how the ABT RS6-S’s output compares to current high-end sports and supercars:
- 2026 Porsche 911 GT3 RS: 518 hp alongside 343 lb-ft of torque
- 2026 Lamborghini Huracan STO: 640 hp alongside 417 lb-ft of torque
- 2026 Maserati MCPura: 621 hp alongside 531 lb-ft of torque
That’s not to say these cars are any worse than the ABT; they will no doubt excel when it comes to on-track performance. But it’s worth bearing in mind that the ABT-tweaked Avant manages to beat them all in a game of Top Trumps, plus it will still happily tour Europe with the whole family onboard, carry a week’s worth of groceries, and save you on delivery costs on new bedroom furniture too, as with almost 70 cubic-feet of space behind the front seats, it’s pretty palatial.
An Expensive ECU Tune, Or A Value-Filled Package?
2026 ABT RS6-SABT
None of this is cheap, though. A new RS6 Avant will set buyers back a smidgen over $130,000, and that’s before they get tick-happy with the options sheet. Which no doubt they will. It is worth noting that a used RS6 is heaps cheaper, the CarBuzz Marketplace currently highlighting an average price of $62,750 for 2021 models, but that’s still not exactly cheap, is it?
And on top of that is ABT’s RS6-S package, which comes in at a hefty €48,900, or about $56,700. It is worth highlighting that the engine tune can be purchased on its own, and in two different states on tune also. Here are your choices:
- ABT Power S package: 720 hp for €13,790 ($15,985).
- ABT Power R including ABT Intercooler package: 740 hp for €21,790 ($22,256)
Both packages come with a five-year warranty. They’re both TÜV-approved, and ABT offers buyers the chance to upgrade the standard exhaust system at the same time. The full ABT RS6-S package is a little more comprehensive – (good, it’s $56,700) – and includes the following:
- ABT Power S tune
- ABT carbon gloss aerodynamics package, consisting of front lip and blades, side skirts front and rear, plus rear spoiler
- ABT exhaust system with twin 102 mm ABT end pipes
- ABT height-adjustable suspension springs
- ABT anti-roll bars
- ABT HR22 alloy wheels
- ABT interior goodies, consisting of ABT and RS6-S logos on the seats, ABT entrance lights, floor mats with the RS6-S logo, door sills, steering wheel badge, and start-stop-switch, plus a fancy ABT carbon shift-knob cover
2026 ABT RS6-SABT
For the more spend-happy consumer, there is also a list of tasty cost-extra options to throw in for good measure:
- ABT GR22 winter wheels at €9,520 ($11,038)
- ABT carbon gloss interior package at €3,840 ($4,452)
- ABT paint protection film; €6,400 for partial, or €11,800 for full ($7,420/13,680)
So, take the RS6’s base price of $130,700, add on $56,700 for the full RS6-S package, and this super-wagon is quickly heading in the direction of setting buyers back a full $200,000. It’s far from cheap, especially when the 717-hp M5 Touring commands a lower MSRP than the Audi, but a case can still be made for the RS6 here.
It manages to hit these lofty output figures without resorting to electrification, and, save for the carbon add-ons which could always be avoided one would imagine, the RS6 does still manage to slip under the radar as just a large wagon. Sure, any gearhead is going to know exactly what it is, but the everyday driver, we think not.
2026 ABT RS6-SABT
It’s a car that’s genuinely fast enough to have all but hypercars in a sweat, rolled up in a practical and technologically impressive package, then improved with suspension upgrades and dressed in sharp carbon accessories. And all for less than the starting price for a Vantage, Urus, Amalfi, or MCPura. Again, not cheap, but it’s not impossible to see the value when compared against high-end sports cars, entry-level supercars, or super-SUVs.
ABT Has A Wealth Of Experience When It Comes To Fast Audis
A trio of ABT-tweaked Audi A4-platform modelsABT
Whether RS6 owners who are curious about what more oomph feels like are eyeing up just an ABT Power S tune, or the full RS6-S package, they should find peace in knowing that ABT isn’t just experimenting. The firm has a history many tuners could only dream of, having tweaked Audi models for decades, with great success.
2026 ABT RS6-SABT
The tuning firm also has a wealth of experience with other manufacturers, but arguably it’s the ABT-tweaked Audi models that are most captivating. From custom bumpers and uplifting tunes through to complete packages like the RS6-S kit, ABT has been in the game for decades. In fact, ABT even developed TT-R DTM racer, which debuted in 2000 and took the World Championship title in 2002 – a car which Gran Turismo players no doubt remember fondly.
ABT TT-R DTMAudi
So while there are indeed cheaper options for power upgrades on the platform out there, owners can be at rest when handing their six-figure super-wagon over to ABT. They know what comes back will be a complete and well-designed product, one capable of taking on just about any super or sports car out there, reliably and safely, all while still flying relatively under the radar.
Sources: ABT, Audi
