Meet the ultimate Audi RS 6 Avant: Only 85 are coming to the U.S.
Race and rally cars are just plain cool. Seeing the pinnacle of an automaker's engineering abilities distilled into a single automobile is sheer bliss. Audi has made some of the best rally cars around, with its Group B cars arguably being its most recognizable models. The German automaker also participated in IMSA with the 1989 Audi 90 quattro IMSA GTO, a five-cylinder, 720-hp behemoth.The 2025 Audi RS 6 Avant GT is the company's tribute to the 90 quattro IMSA GTO car, and is touted as the fastest RS 6 Avant to date. This AWD speed wagon is powered by a 4.0L biturbo V8, outputting 621 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque through an eight-speed Tiptronic gearbox with optimized shift times.
It can propel itself from 0 to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds and top out at 190 mph. Stopping power comes from its massive 16.5-inch front and 14.6-inch rear carbon-ceramic brakes.
Other special additions to the RS 6 Avant GT include three-way adjustable coilovers, a tuned Quattro sport rear differential, exclusive 22-inch 6-spoke Avus wheels painted in Ibis White, and a rear spoiler. Despite the racing-focused additions, the RS 6 Avant GT is 88 lb lighter than the RS 6 Avant Performance.Design-wise, this special edition Audi has a redesigned front fascia, lower splitter, side sills, and rear diffuser, as well as unique carbon-fiber front fenders and hood.
Each U.S.-bound RS 6 Avant GT is finished in Arkona White with the red/gray/black racing-heritage livery and RS badging.
Inside, passengers are greeted by RS sport seats wrapped in Valcona leather with an RS 6 GT logo, featuring red and copper double stitching, and complemented by Crimson Red seatbelts. The Alcantara steering wheel, sides of the center console, the center armrest, and door armrests all sport the same red and copper double stitching.
Even the floormats feature RS 6 GT lettering as does the center-console badge that displays your particular example's number out of 660.
Unlike the regular RS 6 Avant, the special edition GT leaves the Neckarsulm production line after body construction works and paint. Each unit heads to Böllinger Höfe, where models such as the Audi R8 and the RS e-tron GT are built.
Final assembly is carried out by seven experienced craftspeople at three assembly stations set up especially for this exclusive special edition, spending an entire day on site. All GT-specific features are fitted by hand, including the hood, fenders, rocker panels, double wing, the front and rear aprons, and the adjustable coilover suspension.Of course, such a tremendous automobile is a limited affair, with only 85 units produced in the U.S. and 660 globally. The Audi RS 6 Avant GT was released in late 2024 with an MSRP of $198,900, but good luck finding one on the second-hand market.
Given its limited release, used examples will undoubtedly command a premium when they do hit sites like Bring a Trailer or Cars & Bids. Do you think a tribute like this is worth the near $200,000 price tag, or would it need to have a lot more added features for that kind of dough?
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Motor 1
2 hours ago
- Motor 1
Every Hot Hatchback You Can Buy In 2025
Hot hatchbacks don't have the same stranglehold over the affordable performance segment that they once did. At least, not in the US. As recently as the mid-2010s, we were spoiled for choice with options like the Fiat 500 Abarth, the Ford Focus and Fiesta STs, the Mazdaspeed 3—and so many more. These days, the market has dwindled to just a handful of options. Icons like the Honda Civic Type R and Volkswagen GTI live on. Beyond that, we've been forced to stretch the definition of a "hot hatchback" by including luxury liftbacks from Audi and Porsche, as well as electric options from BMW and Hyundai. Sadly, hot hatchbacks just aren't as desirable in the US as they once were. But, there are still some excellent options if you know where to look. Acura Integra Type S Photo by: Acura Price: $54,095 320 Horsepower The Integra may look like a sedan, but it is in fact a hatchback. And with the Type S badge, it's a pretty hot one at that. Powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine, the Integra Type S sends 320 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels, paired exclusively to a six-speed manual transmission. It takes just 5.2 seconds for it to reach 60 miles per hour. Unfortunately, the Integra Type S is also one of the pricier options on this list, with an MSRP of $54,095 for 2025. Audi S5 Photo by: Audi Price: $63,995 362 Horsepower Audi's lineup will look drastically different over the next few years. The longstanding A4 sedan, for example, is gone. In its place is a new A5 with a liftback design—or, a hatchback design. While there's no RS5 (yet), the new Audi S5 has a turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 mild-hybrid with 362 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, which sends it to 60 miles per hour in 4.7 seconds. If you want to get your hands on a new S5, prepare to dish out at least $63,995 for the luxury five-door. Audi S7 / RS7 Price: $87,590 / $130,490 444 / 621 Horsepower The Audi A7 range may not be around for much longer, so get it while you still can. Even though the base A7 packs a turbocharged V-6 with a modest 335 horsepower, it's the S7 and RS7 Performance models you really want. The S7 makes 444 hp from a turbocharged V-6, while the RS7 Performance packs a whopping 621 horsepower from its twin-turbo V-8. Neither of these performance cars is cheap, with the S7 starting at $87,590 and the RS7 Performance asking $130,490. BMW i4 Price: $59,075 396 Horsepower One of only two electric "hatchbacks" on this list, the BMW i4 comes standard with 335 horsepower and up to 318 miles of range, depending on how you spec it. The all-wheel-drive xDrive40 model gets even more oomph with 396 hp and up to 287 miles of range. But if it's the hottest i4 you're after, the M50 model puts down 536 hp, which sends it to 60 miles per hour in just 3.7 seconds. Sure, that also drops the range figure to 267 miles—but that's a small price to pay. Speaking of price: The base i4 starts at $59,075 while the M50 model is $71,875. BMW M440i Gran Coupe Photo by: BMW Price: $64,375 386 Horsepower No, you can't get the cute little 2 Series hatchback here in the US; the next-best thing is the X2 SUV. But, BMW does technically have a gas-powered hatchback in the M440i Gran Coupe . The sportiest version of BMW's 4 Series Gran Coupe makes 386 horsepower from a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine, and comes with your choice of rear- or all-wheel drive. With AWD, it takes just 4.3 seconds for it to reach 60 miles per hour. The M440i Gran Coupe starts at $64,375. Honda Civic Type R Photo by: Honda Price: $47,045 315 Horsepower The beloved Honda Civic Type R soldiers on into 2025 with minimal changes. Not that that's an issue. The feisty five-door still makes 315 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque from its turbocharged 2.0-liter engine. A six-speed manual is the only gearbox option, and power is sent to the front wheels. For 2025, Honda asks $47,045 for the Civic Type R. Hyundai Ioniq 5N Price: $67,675 641 Horsepower Only the second electric "hatchback" on this list, the Hyundai Ioniq 5N packs a powerful punch with its 84.0-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack and two electric motors pumping out 641 horsepower and 545 pound-feet of torque. That sends the electric hatch to 60 miles per hour in just 3.4 seconds—supercar speed. Of course, Hyundai won't let you walk away with a new Ioniq 5N for cheap; it starts at $67,675 with destination. Check Out These Lists Every Three-Row SUV You Can Buy in 2025 The Best Performance Cars of 2025 (So Far) Mazda3 Turbo Photo by: Jeff Perez / Motor1 Price: $34,635 250 Horsepower Mazdaspeed is gone, and it probably isn't coming back anytime soon. RIP. That said, Mazda does still have a hot-ish hatchback in its lineup: The 3 Turbo . With a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine making 250 horsepower, it's just powerful enough to keep things interesting. It takes the Mazda3 Turbo 6.0 seconds to reach 60 miles per hour, but sadly, it's only available with an automatic. You can get one for $34,635 for 2025. Mini Cooper JCW Photo by: Mini Price: $39,375 221 Horsepower The Mini Cooper has been the quintessential British hatchback since its introduction to the market in the early 2000s. Though it's not as small or lightweight as it was 20-plus years ago, the Cooper hardtop's relatively low weight and simplicity make it a joy to toss around corners. These days, the Cooper JCW is the one to get, powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four making 221 horsepower, sending power to the front wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission—sorry purists, there's no manual available right now. Porsche Panamera Photo by: Porsche Price: $104,795 348 Horsepower Designating the Porsche Panamera a hot hatch might be stretching the definition of the term a bit, but considering its hatch out back and sporty intentions, we think the car has earned its place here. There's a bevy of different engines to choose from, ranging from a base turbocharged V-6 making 348 horsepower, all the way to the Turbo S E-Hybrid, powered by a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 hybrid making 771 horsepower. No matter which trim you go for, you're in for a lovely driving experience—this is a Porsche, after all. Toyota GR Corolla Photo by: Toyota Price: $39,995 300 Horsepower The Toyota GR Corolla is a hot hatch in the truest sense. It takes a normal, economical package and turns it into something exciting and fun to drive. There are widened fenders, new bumpers, and, most importantly, a turbocharged three-cylinder making a nice, even 300 horsepower. Thrust gets to all four wheels via a six-speed manual or, for 2025, an optional eight-speed automatic. While the auto is nice, we suggest going for the manual, as it delivers the purest experience. It's also the cheapest option, starting at $39,995. Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid Price: $34,110 220 Horsepower Surprised to see a Prius on this list? You shouldn't be. The Prius Plug-In Hybrid (formerly the Prius Prime) may not look very sporty, but it's hiding some serious performance under that sleek, aerodynamically efficient body. The plug-in hybrid system makes a total of 220 horsepower, enough to launch the car to 60 miles per hour in just 6.4 seconds. We'd say that's more than quick enough to qualify the car for hot hatch status. Best of all, you can pick one up for just $34,110, which is pretty cheap for any plug-in hybrid, much less something as efficient as the Prius. Volkswagen GTI Photo by: Volkswagen Price: $33,670 241 Horsepower The Volkswagen Golf GTI might not be the dominant figure it used to be, but if you're shopping for a car that checks all the boxes, it's hard to ignore. Volkswagen's punchy five-door looks great, drives well, and delivers enough comfort to be used every day. Under the hood is a 241-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four spinning the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. You can pick one up for as little as $33,670, making it a relative bargain in a world of ever-ballooning new car prices. Volkswagen Golf R Photo by: Volkswagen Price: $48,325 328 Horsepower If the GTI is for the everyman, the Golf R is for the purists. Save for some minor changes to the bumpers and trim, it looks the same as its less extreme sibling. But it's hiding a more powerful turbocharged four-cylinder, delivering 328 horses to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. That bump in power and extra set of driven wheels means a 0-60 time in the mid-four-second range. The upgrades will cost you, though, to the tune of $48,325. Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )


Motor Trend
7 hours ago
- Motor Trend
2025 Audi SQ6 E-Tron First Test: Incredibly Quick, But Otherwise … ?
Pros It's how quick?! Home-charging port on both sides Quickly adds range at fast chargers Cons Slow-acting charge port doors Not as fun as the competition Needs more exterior and interior colors What a breath of fresh air. Where the BMW iX's extroverted design leans too hard into the future and the blobby Mercedes EQE lacks premium proportions, the 2025 Audi SQ6 slices the competition right down the middle. Here's a conventionally handsome electric luxury SUV with 509 hp to transform every green light into an adventure. The road to success should be easy for this Audi, right? Right ? Why We Tested an SQ6 After starting its EV game strong with what became known as the Q8 E-Tron, Audi faltered with the smaller, more affordable Q4. The latter electric SUV didn't initially meet our expectations of how an Audi should feel, and a gaping hole formed between the two. Now, after some delays, the 2025 Audi Q6 and more powerful SQ6 are here, striking at the heart of the market—a comfortably sized five-seat SUV more luxurious than the Q4 but less pricey than the Q8 E-Tron, more or less the electric equivalent to the brand's popular Q5. Instead of a base Q6 RWD's 322 hp or a dual-motor AWD model's 456 hp, the SQ6's dual-motor AWD setup manages 509 hp with launch control. In terms of horsepower bragging rights, the smaller Q4 doesn't come close. SQ6 Tested: A Polestar-Sized Issue The standard Q6 does , however. In our testing, a Q6 AWD sprinted from 0 to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds, a full 0.3 second quicker than Audi's own estimate. The SQ6 follows suit, beating Audi's 4.1-second estimate; in our testing, the SUV hit 60 in just 3.7 seconds. Just a few years ago, that kind of explosive performance would have been reserved for RS models like the RS3 and RS6. One of the SQ6's best features is how that acceleration feels in the real world. In any drive mode, slam that accelerator pedal to the floor, and as the nose of the SUV lifts, you're off. The near-instant rush of acceleration people associate with electric cars is easier to feel here than in the Polestar 3, another similarly priced electric luxury SUV with sporty intentions, and especially compared to the regular Q6 E-Tron. And that electric Polestar is about as quick as the Audi, with a MotorTrend -tested 0–60-mph time of 3.8 to 4.1 seconds depending on model. If your driving thrills mostly happen in a straight line, the SQ6 is a great option. It's when the road starts to curve that we start daydreaming about the Polestar 3. On the figure-eight course, our racetrack-in-a-bottle test, the Audi turned in a respectable performance of 24.7 seconds at 0.80 g (average), to the Polestar 3 AWD's 24.4–24.6 seconds at 0.81–0.82 g (average, from two 3s). But setting the objective numbers aside, the Polestar simply feels more fun and lighter on its feet, which is interesting because it's about 250 pounds heavier than the Audi. As our test crew noted, the SQ6's chassis is composed if you take it down a few notches. But drive it at a faster pace, and the SUV just doesn't feel as fun—it's competent, not captivating. On the road, the SQ6's adaptive air suspension strikes a good balance between comfort and a sporty feel. Just like the SUV's styling itself, ride quality is good enough that you could live with it for years to come. That's true up to the moment you hear the hollow thrumming sound coming from the tires on the highway. There's a partial fix for that, though: Turn up the volume on the Bang & Olufsen sound system, which has a 3D sound feature and headrest speakers. The acoustic front door glass on the top SQ6 trim pairs well with the excellent sound system and adaptive cruise control to make stop-and-go traffic more tolerable. Range and Charge Testing: Hey, Not Bad We know the SQ6 isn't the sportiest or most spacious electric SUV around, and, well, it's also lacking any claims to class-leading range. A 275-mile EPA-rated range is fine, however, and in our Road-Trip Range test—which simulates how you might drive on the highway—the Audi managed 266 miles, nearly matching its claim. Getting that close to the EPA figure is impressive, as is what happens when the Audi is fast-charged. The 2025 SQ6 added back 160 miles of range after 15 minutes in our testing, which will make public charging stops quicker and more convenient. Few vehicles we've run through these tests have added that many miles in 15 minutes. As a bonus, the SUV is capable of 400 kW of recuperative braking—meaning it can pile electrons back into the battery quite rapidly when using the motors to slow itself down, stretching your around-town range. What About Tesla? What about Tesla? With the spacious Model Y SUV, Tesla has produced one of the most popular vehicles on the planet. And the newest model's updates promise improvements at a lower price than the Audi, Polestar, or BMW. What Tesla can no longer provide is a positive status boost you can count on, like most other luxury brands. We're not just talking about the CEO's unpredictable antics but also the sales troubles faced by one of its halo vehicles, the Cybertruck. So if any of the above—or the Model Y's ubiquity— bothers you, it's time to consider other brands. It's Fine. But Is It Fiiine ? We like the 2025 Audi SQ6 a lot; we just don't have much love for it. The design is conventionally handsome but may look too much like the smaller Q4 at a glance. The range is decent in the real world, but that's also true of the competition. We like the real, pull-out door handles and the cargo area's convenient netted cubbies, but what are we talking about here, a RAV4 or a luxury SUV? The SQ6 delivers fantastic acceleration for quick thrills pretty much anywhere. We understand why Audi buyers will be drawn to it, as it's very, very Audi-like, but the BMW's interior feels richer, and the Polestar is more fun to drive. That leaves the Audi right down the middle. We understand the SQ6's appeal, and it is quicker than a run-of-the-mill Q6, but that model more or less delivers the same verve—even without an S badge.


Business Upturn
14 hours ago
- Business Upturn
Volkswagen Virtus crosses 1.43 lakh sales milestone in 3 years, leads midsize sedan market in FY2025
By Aditya Bhagchandani Published on June 9, 2025, 10:33 IST Volkswagen Virtus has surpassed the 1.43 lakh sales mark since its launch in India on June 9, 2022. This milestone includes 61,563 units sold domestically and 81,243 units exported till the end of April 2025. The combined figure is expected to cross 1.45 lakh units once May 2025 numbers are accounted for. The sedan, built on the MQB A0 IN platform, has stood out in a declining midsize sedan market dominated by SUVs. In FY2025, Virtus emerged as the best-selling midsize premium sedan in India with 21,432 units sold, capturing 38% of the segment's market share. It overtook rivals such as the Hyundai Verna, Honda City, and Maruti Ciaz. The Skoda Slavia, its sibling model, is categorized separately as an executive sedan. Virtus has also led Volkswagen India's exports, with 34,640 units shipped in FY2025 alone—making it the sixth most-exported passenger car in the country. It has consistently driven VW India's export momentum since FY2023. The sedan is praised for its build quality, spacious interiors, and strong TSI petrol engine options—offered in 13 variants ranging from Rs 13.50 lakh to Rs 22.43 lakh. With over 40 safety features and a 5-star Global NCAP rating, the Virtus continues to be a strong contender in the premium sedan space despite an industry-wide tilt towards SUVs. Aditya Bhagchandani serves as the Senior Editor and Writer at Business Upturn, where he leads coverage across the Business, Finance, Corporate, and Stock Market segments. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to journalistic integrity, he not only contributes insightful articles but also oversees editorial direction for the reporting team.