The Audi RS6 will keep its booming V8 – in addition to 670bhp EV
Both hybrid and electric performance A6s are being readied for 2026
Open gallery
Close
The next Audi RS6 will be completely electrified for its fifth generation in 2026, when it will arrive with both a plug-in hybrid V8 powertrain and a fully electric one – a first for Audi Sport.
Set to rival both the electric BMW i5 M60 and the PHEV BMW M5, the new RS6 will be the most powerful version yet, producing as much as 730bhp in combustion-engined form.
And for the first time since 2010, the RS6 will offer a choice of estate and saloon bodystyles.
The decision to continue offering a combustion-engined RS6 comes two years after Audi Sport confirmed its intention to take the RS6 fully electric. Slower than anticipated EV sales in important markets prompted a revision of that plan, with Audi now instead seeking to extend the life cycles of key ICE models well into the next decade.
The dual-powertrain approach is underpinned by a dual-platform strategy. The electric RS6 E-tron sits on the Volkswagen Group's Premium Platform Electric (PPE). Meanwhile, the combustion-engined RS6 adopts the Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) – an evolution of the MLB architecture used by the current RS6, which was introduced in 2019.
Details remain scarce, but the combustion-engined RS6 is understood to continue with an updated version of the Porsche-developed twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine used by its predecessor. But in order to meet stricter Euro 7 emissions legislation, it is expected to be combined with a plug-in hybrid system that incorporates a gearbox-mounted electric motor and a lithium ion battery – a set-up already deployed in various Porsche and Bentley models.
Recent sightings of test vehicles appear to confirm this development, with mules spotted wearing smaller, more inboard tailpipes closely resembling those fitted to the Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid. A 'high voltage' sticker has also been seen on these prototypes.
Using this set-up also means a bump in power over the existing RS6's 621bhp and 627lb ft. For example, in the most potent Cayenne, the PHEV arrangement delivers a combined 730bhp and 701lb ft of torque.
An even more powerful version of this PHEV powertrain is used in the facelifted Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid, where it develops 771bhp and 738lb ft. That provides the four-wheel-drive luxury liftback with an official 0–62mph time of 2.9sec and a 202mph top speed – figures that Audi Sport will be aiming to emulate with the new RS6.
The move to develop the V8 for the RS6 is reinforced by fellow Volkswagen Group brand Porsche, which announced last year that the next-generation Cayenne and other models will retain combustion engines into the future, with investment aimed at 'improving the efficiency of the V8 developed by Porsche and built at the Zuffenhausen engine plant'.
The electric RS6 E-tron, meanwhile, is confirmed to run a sophisticated dual-motor, four-wheel-drive powertrain that builds on the one already in the S6 E-tron.
In that model (launched alongside the standard A6 E-tron earlier this year), the system develops 543bhp and 631lb ft.
Insiders at Audi Sport have suggested to Autocar that power will be ramped up to somewhere closer to 670bhp and 701lb ft.
One source said: 'It's unlikely to reach as far as the RS E-tron GT [Audi Sport's most powerful model, at 912bhp], but there will be a solid increase over and above the S6 E-tron as part of the differentiation measures.'
Like some other performance EVs, such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, Audi will also give the RS6 E-tron a trick gearbox and pump sound into the cabin to increase driver engagement.
Audi Sport engineers are also claimed to be developing a progressive torque curve.
The EV will use the same 94.8kWh (usable) battery as the A6 E-tron but, given its performance positioning, it isn't expected to achieve the same range as the standard saloon (463 miles) or Avant estate (437 miles).
Both the electric and combustion-engined RS6s will be visually more aggressive than their standard stablemates, with a more angular design, wider arches and, at the rear, a deep diffuser and larger roof-mounted spoiler.
For the PHEV, notably larger air intakes and centrally positioned oval tailpipes will be added. Meanwhile, the EV will grow to 4900mm in length, to match its PHEV V8 sibling.
Despite the adoption of lightweight materials such as aluminium and composites, the extra hybrid hardware will add mass, tipping the new PHEV RS6 beyond the 2090kg of its predecessor. The electric RS6 E-tron, meanwhile, is set to exceed the 2500kg mark.
To preserve handling agility and improve comfort, Audi Sport is expected to introduce a new active suspension system similar to that of the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid.
Sightings of prototypes also suggest braking will be handled by large carbon-ceramic discs and 10-piston front calipers.
As with previous iterations, the new RS6 is expected to maintain a significant premium above the rest of the A6 range. For the EV, it will rise beyond its £99,300 S6 sibling, while prices for the petrol-powered car are expected to extend in the direction today's £176,975 RS6 Avant GT.
Join our WhatsApp community and be the first to read about the latest news and reviews wowing the car world. Our community is the best, easiest and most direct place to tap into the minds of Autocar, and if you join you'll also be treated to unique WhatsApp content. You can leave at any time after joining - check our full privacy policy here.
Next
Prev
In partnership with
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Telegraph
16 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Another wheel has just flown off the EV dream
They will save the planet, they are quieter, they will rebuild local industries, and they even come with attractive tax breaks. Re-wind a couple of years, and there were plenty of reasons for buying a shiny new Tesla or Polestar electric vehicle instead of an old-fashioned, high-pollution, petrol or diesel car. And yet, one by one, all those arguments have been punctured. They won't help the environment as much as we think, they are mostly made in China, the tax breaks are gone, and now we learn that they are more likely to break down as well. If you were not already worried enough about where the heck you might be able to recharge your electric car during a long drive over the summer, now there is something else to fret about as well. You are more likely to break down than the other cars on the road. According to a poll of 30,000 drivers by WhatCar, EV's suffer from a higher breakdown rate than petrol, diesel or hybrid vehicles, with 16.8 per cent of owners reporting some kind of fault, compared to 15.4 per cent for diesel, the second worst offender. It gets worse. The faults on EV's were less likely to be something that could be fixed on the side of the road by an emergency repair service, meaning that motorists were less likely to be able to complete their journey, and might have to pay for an expensive towing service as well. And of course, if something does go wrong it will probably cost more to fix, with surveys suggesting that EVs cost 30 per cent to 50 per cent more to repair than petrol cars, while replacing the tyres if you get a puncture will be pricey as well, with each one, according to one survey, costing £77 more on average than traditional vehicles. Perhaps not very surprising, the insurance is more expensive, given that the costs are higher if anything goes wrong, and that has to be recouped somehow or other. The costs start to add up very quickly. An EV is turning into a very expensive choice. That is not what we were promised. One of the strong selling points for EVs over conventional vehicles was that because they had so few moving parts compared to internal combustion engines, they were far less likely to go wrong. And overall, they were meant to be far cheaper to run than the vehicles they were replacing. One by one, all the arguments for owning an EV have been falling apart. It turns out that they cost more to run. The tax breaks are gradually being withdrawn; as of this year, they are no longer exempt from road tax, and from Christmas they will have to start paying the congestion charge in London, and probably very soon in other major cities as well. On top of all that, they are handing the auto industry to China, destroying one of Europe's major industries, and given the environmental impact of the manufacturing process, and all the minerals that go into them, they might not even be better for the environment either. In reality, the drive to force us all to switch to EVs was top-down. I was state-planning at its very worst. It set arbitrary targets, lavished subsidies and tax breaks on an industry, only to withdraw them when they became too expensive. Perhaps worst of all, it backed an unproven technology that may well turn out to be an expensive flop. The wheels are coming off the EV dream – and once drivers are convinced that they are not the right choice, it will be very hard to persuade them to start buying EVs again.
FF News
an hour ago
- FF News
DHgate and Merge Announce Strategic Partnership to Power B2B Cross-Border Payments
Merge, a London-based fintech company that provides payments and banking infrastructure for digital businesses, has announced a new strategic partnership with DHgate, a leading global B2B e-commerce marketplace. The partnership will integrate Merge's advanced API for cross-border payments into DHgate's platform, making transactions smoother and more cost-effective. This means DHgate's customers will enjoy a simpler payment process, reduced transaction costs, and more payment options, eliminating many of the issues faced by marketplaces when using traditional payment service providers. Leveraging the recent activation of both EMI and VASP licences, Merge's fully regulated API technology enables businesses to easily create, deploy, and manage payment collection and disbursement without requiring significant engineering resources. This provides partners with a more cost-effective, compliant solution for building new payments products or enhancing existing services. For DHgate, Merge's technology will enhance the overall payments experience and boost conversion rates on their platform. The API grants access to real-time, local payment rails that ensure instant payments and settlements, and significantly reduced chargebacks compared to traditional card payments, all at a fraction of the price. DHgate joins a long list of prestigious businesses currently utilising the Merge API, showing the growing need for cross-border payments rails within the global eCommerce landscape. With the cross border B2B payment market size valued at around $150 billion in revenue in 2024, Merge is set to expand its global reach and improve the payment rails available to businesses and marketplaces worldwide. The partnership is a key step in expanding Merge's global presence and reinforcing its mission to facilitate seamless cross-border payments. It also reflects DHgate's commitment to offering reliable, diverse payment options to support the needs of its global customer base. Kebbie Sebastian, CEO of Merge, said: By removing the payment friction that often slows international trade, we're helping platforms like DHgate unlock new markets and better serve their global customers. It's a strong validation of our infrastructure and a step forward in our mission to modernize how money moves across borders. This partnership with DHgate reinforces Merge's commitment to enabling efficient, reliable payments for established global platforms.' Jin Xinyu, Payment Director at DHgate, added: 'As the global leading B2B cross-border e-commerce marketplace, DHGate is at the forefront of innovation in global commerce and money movement is a critical part of that. We are glad to leverage Merge's transformational technology to expand our customer base by offering faster, more cost effective payment options to our customers. Companies In This Post Merge
Finextra
2 hours ago
- Finextra
Fabrick completes acquisition of finAPI
Fabrick, Italian company operating in the Open Finance industry, has completed the acquisition from SCHUFA Holding AG. of 75% of finAPI, one of the leading players in Open Banking in Germany. 0 The acquisition, authorized by regulatory authorities, expands the international perspective of Fabrick and enables the development of synergies for innovation in digital payments across Europe. The convergence between Fabrick and finAPI aims to improve customer experience in payments and access to financial data, making it increasingly secure, fast, and reliable. In this context, the combined portfolio of the two companies will offer enterprises clients a broader range of digital solutions. Specifically, finAPI's clients will benefit from Fabrick's extensive portfolio. Thanks to this operation, Fabrick is now entering high-potential markets such as Germany and Austria, in addition to Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Fabrick not only strengthens its presence at European level but also confirms its DNA as an open ecosystem capable to grow through confrontation with different contexts and cultures and a mutual exchange of know-how and expertise. An asset that enriches the overall offer to the benefit of enterprise clients and their end customers, who can benefit from solutions that are increasingly effective, complete in line with the needs of a market in constant transformation. With its open finance platform, Fabrick orchestrates innovative solutions in the entire payment value chain. It operates as an enabler for banks, fintechs, and corporations, aiming to optimize the end-user experience by making it seamless and personalized. With the acquisition of finAPI, it not only gains expertise and experience, but also strengthens itself in a segment as strategic for the future as A2A payments, becoming one of the main European players by value of transactions. Founded in 2008 in Munich, finAPI is among Germany's pioneers in Open Banking, Data Intelligence, KYC, and Payments. The company serves more than 400 clients, including banks, insurance companies, fintechs, financial institutions, and software providers, operating not only in Germany and Austria, but also in numerous other European countries. In 2024, it reported net sales of €7 million, handling more than 5 billion API calls and a total volume of over €70 billion in account-to-account payments. Germany remains one of the most promising markets for Open Finance in Europe, thanks to strong economic, regulatory, and technological fundamentals. According to Grand View Research, the German Open Banking market was worth €1.7 billion in 2023 and could exceed €8.6 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 26 percent. Embedded Finance is also growing strongly: estimated at $9.79 billion in 2024, it could reach $25.81 billion by 2029. Consumer adoption increased from 2% to 13% between 2022 and 2024, with 14% of consumers and 10% of SMEs already using embedded lending solutions. With the upcoming PSD3 directive, Europe is preparing to become the leading global market for Open Banking. In this context, the international presence of specialized players such as Fabrick fosters the evolution of Open Finance, promoting innovation, efficiency, and competitiveness. Paolo Zaccardi, CEO and co-founder of Fabrick, comments: 'The acquisition of finAPI represents a strategic step in our European journey. The integration of the two companies, which share a common vision and goals, allows us to enable new models of customer engagement and loyalty, through a fluid, omnichannel and tailored customer experience, in which payments become relationship opportunities. We proceed with a growth perspective based on the exchange of skills and targeted investments, with the aim of strengthening the solutions developed for customers and contributing to their evolution in an increasingly efficient, complete and innovative key.' Florian Haagen, CEO and Co-founder of finAPI, added: 'The merger with Fabrick marks a significant step for finAPI and our customers. Together, we can offer an even broader portfolio of digital Open Finance solutions - with greater flexibility, enhanced capabilities, and access to innovative payment services such as Fabrick's orchestration. For our clients, this means more possibilities and real added value. As part of Fabrick, we are ideally positioned to actively shape the future of Open Finance in Europe.'
