What do you get when take a powerful V8, add a capable chassis, RWD or AWD and wrap it up in a 4 door shell with a large hatch behind the rear seat? Super wagons.. a super fast, tire shredding, grocery getters with performance that challenges supercars.
Audi has just revealed its new Audi RS6 wagon with a 4.0 litre twin turbo V8 putting out 552 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. Audi estimates a 0-62 mph time (0-100 km/h) of 3.9 s but judging by Motor Trend's test and dyno of the Audi S8 which uses basically the same engine, I expect the acceleration and output numbers to be on the conservative side. I wouldn't be surprised if the engine puts out about the same power as the one in the S8 but Audi just gave them different ratings to market this as being more sporty.
The idea of a powerful people mover is nothing new. Large station wagons with powerful V8's were not unusual but, unfortunately, after the oil crisis of 1973, the power wars started to die. The power wars are back though and they're even better. Cars are more powerful and more fuel efficient than ever. You can now walk into a Ford dealership and buy a car with 662 hp that gets 24 mpg on the hwy - the 2013 Mustang Shelby GT500 - all for about the same cost as a midsize luxury sedan.. you know it's a great time to be an enthusiast when the "underdog" - the Camaro ZL1 - is a car that has "only" 580 hp but is packed with suspension tech that allows it to be a comfortable cruiser and, with the push of a button, you can turn it into a track missile that can keep up with almost everything you can find on the track.
The power wars have caught up with more than sporty coupes though and the newly revealed Audi RS6 is a proof of that. The question is, why? Why are super wagons so appealing? I have read several reviews of super wagons from Mercedes, Cadillac, and others that said super wagons are not money makers for their manufacturers. I know many gear heads and many of them think that wagons don't look good and there's no need for super wagons because the only reason you would want a wagon is the space. Only a select few of the biggest gear heads like super wagons and they don't just like them, they think they're awesome. It's a love or hate thing - you either think they're useless and would never consider one, or you think they're some of the coolest things on wheels.
I happen to be part of the latter group. I think wagons are cool.. super cool. If money were never an issue, I know I would have one. And although many fans would be disappointed that Audi isn't planning to sell the RS6 across the Atlantic, I don't care.. because the coolest super wagon is available right here. I will have mine in Black Diamond please..
Which group are you part of? Do you think super wagons are cool and manufacturers should continue to update them with the rest of their lineups or you think there's no use for them?
Audi has just revealed its new Audi RS6 wagon with a 4.0 litre twin turbo V8 putting out 552 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. Audi estimates a 0-62 mph time (0-100 km/h) of 3.9 s but judging by Motor Trend's test and dyno of the Audi S8 which uses basically the same engine, I expect the acceleration and output numbers to be on the conservative side. I wouldn't be surprised if the engine puts out about the same power as the one in the S8 but Audi just gave them different ratings to market this as being more sporty.
The idea of a powerful people mover is nothing new. Large station wagons with powerful V8's were not unusual but, unfortunately, after the oil crisis of 1973, the power wars started to die. The power wars are back though and they're even better. Cars are more powerful and more fuel efficient than ever. You can now walk into a Ford dealership and buy a car with 662 hp that gets 24 mpg on the hwy - the 2013 Mustang Shelby GT500 - all for about the same cost as a midsize luxury sedan.. you know it's a great time to be an enthusiast when the "underdog" - the Camaro ZL1 - is a car that has "only" 580 hp but is packed with suspension tech that allows it to be a comfortable cruiser and, with the push of a button, you can turn it into a track missile that can keep up with almost everything you can find on the track.
The power wars have caught up with more than sporty coupes though and the newly revealed Audi RS6 is a proof of that. The question is, why? Why are super wagons so appealing? I have read several reviews of super wagons from Mercedes, Cadillac, and others that said super wagons are not money makers for their manufacturers. I know many gear heads and many of them think that wagons don't look good and there's no need for super wagons because the only reason you would want a wagon is the space. Only a select few of the biggest gear heads like super wagons and they don't just like them, they think they're awesome. It's a love or hate thing - you either think they're useless and would never consider one, or you think they're some of the coolest things on wheels.
I happen to be part of the latter group. I think wagons are cool.. super cool. If money were never an issue, I know I would have one. And although many fans would be disappointed that Audi isn't planning to sell the RS6 across the Atlantic, I don't care.. because the coolest super wagon is available right here. I will have mine in Black Diamond please..
Which group are you part of? Do you think super wagons are cool and manufacturers should continue to update them with the rest of their lineups or you think there's no use for them?
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