Audi’s incremental improvements transform the RS6 because 600bhp wasn’t enough. Obviously.

The incredible Eurotour from 2022 left such an deep and profound lasting feeling in the whole family, it wasn’t long after that plans to return the following year started to quickly develop. Unfortunately, the plan didn’t come to fruition thanks to some last minute work woes, but that didn’t stop me from finding an excuse to replace the magnificent RS6 with… another one.

And lo, the RS6 Performance Carbon Vorsprung. And I absolutely love it. Such small changes often amount to little, especially in the guise of a performance daily. But the combined changes make a major difference in giving the new Performance a brand new personality.

Externally, there’s a hint more muscularity to the car – new matt grey carbon aero on front and rear skirts together with the wing-mirrors, compliment the ridiculous 22 inch wheels (lighter too), seemingly straight from the Lamborghini Huracan Performante. And I’m glad that’s all that changes. You may have seen the new RS6 GT which, as dramatic as it looks, completely eschews it’s strengths as being the ultimate Q car.

Stepping in, the interior has a revised sporty look with alcantara absolutely everywhere, seats adorned with RS logos in contrasting Red – it feels special and expensive. It’s genuinely a great place to be and has an air of absolute quality about it. Using it as a daily every day into London, it’s extremely comfortable and offers significantly different experiences based on the ride modes you choose. With a combination of subtle improvements across the cabin, there’s a lot more tech too. The infra-red thermal camera is a proper partry trick and impreses as much as it becomes useless. There’s a huge amount of technology and safety features that are both familiar and new but the combination of both tactility and modern touch screen dynamics are really well balanced. Audi have properly nailed the interior and it’s a wonderful place to be.

It’s a car with immense road presence. From any angle, especially whilst moving, the squat haunches and wide arches are legitimately intimidating and as it makes no attempt to hide its intention. Impressively, Audo have done a fantastic job in making the RS6 look significantly different to the standard A6 avants.

Now with 630bhp (an extra 30bhp and 50 lb/ft) may not be enough to change the dymanic of a car by itself, and it isn’t. But the way in which that power is deployed feels completely different. With the transmission and drivetrain revised and a completely new, revised map and exhaust set up have done well to transform the car and improve almost all the areas that were lacking previously.

There’s an immediacy to throttle response that feels significantly more urgent. Before, slowing down for a junction and then accelerating out again, there always felt a sense of delay and indecision, taking a second extra to decide what gear it was in and work out the appropriate course of action. That has largely disappeared, with decisive responses to throttle inputs creating a real sense of confidence.

Add to that also the changes to the exhaust. It sounds fantastic with that V8 given considerable more freedom to clear its pipes and vocalise that wonderful German rumble. With the accoustic sport mode engaged the sensation is even more accentuated with a deep, vibrance to its tone that is really noticable when switched on. You know it’s working when sometimes, switching it off for some peace and quiet is a welcome touch!

And yes, it’s plenty quick. As I’ve said already, 30bhp isn’t a lot – but with all the other changes, the wagon is a proper hot rod. I absolutely love the way the car squats its rear haunches down when you pin that throttle down, it’s not a shy car and loves expression and the multi faceted schizophrenic nature of the car suits me absolutely perfectly.

I’m actually writing this a good 7 months after I’ve collected the car so the sentiment remains. I’m properly enamoured by this car and if I absolutely had to sell one of my cars, I suspect the RS6 would be the last out the garage.