Initial plans called for combustion-engined successor models to today’s A6 saloon and A6 Avant to be renamed as the A7 saloon and A7 Avant in keeping with a new naming system developed under former Audi CEO Markus Duesmann. It called for electric models to receive even-numbered model designations and combustion models to switch to odd-numbered model designations.
However, the appointment of Gernot Doellner to the head of the German car maker has led to an internal review of future operations and the naming system, say insiders at the company’s Ingolstadt base.
Before the new electric-powered RS6 E-tron saloon and Avant arrive, Audi plans to provide the existing combustion model with a further upgrade in the form of a car known to insiders at the Audi Sport division as the RS6 GT Avant.
Inspired by the RS6 GTO concept revealed in 2020, its twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 is claimed to develop an added 20bhp and 37lb ft over the existing RS6 Avant Performance at up to 650bhp and 664lb ft.
Prototypes of what is possibly the last non-electrified RS6 Avant model recently spied testing at the Nürburgring feature a revised aerodynamic package, including a larger wing element above the tailgate as well as a new diffuser.
Whether the new GT model will be offered in RS7 saloon guise is not yet clear, although it is claimed to be the fastest-accelerating RS6 Avant yet. Autocar has been told to expect a 0-62mph of “around 3.5sec” in combination with a top speed “limited to 190mph”.
