The Audi RS6 is the highest performing version of the Audi A6 (above the Audi S6). It is a mid-size sports car-focussed executive car produced by quattro GmbH for German automaker Audi AG, and is only available with Audis’ famed quattro permanent four-wheel drive. Production of the first-generation RS6 began in June 2002 and ended in October 2004. The second-generation was introduced at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show. Its main rivals are the Mercedes-Benz E-Class AMG and BMW M5.
The C5 RS6 (2004) was the third model to come out of Audi’s quattro GmbH; first was Porsche/quattro GmbH RS2 Avant, second the B5 RS4 (2001); fourth the A4 DTM edition saloon, and (as of 2007) the current is the B7 RS4. It was the first RS model to reach the United States and Canada, aside from many owners converting the B5 S4 saloon version into an RS4 spec 4 door replica.
The “RS” stands for RennSport, and is Audi’s ultimate high performance trim level, positioned above the “S” (“Sport”) specification level of Audi’s regular line-up.
