Audi RS6 Quattro Avant (C5): PH Heroes - Pistonheads.com
First it tested the water with its 1994 Porsche-influenced RS2 Avant, and then established the format with the much-lauded B5 RS4 Avant before really hitting the headlines with its definitive 2002 450hp RS6 Avant. German rivals BMW and Mercedes were totally outflanked - BMW's rear-drive E39 M5 wasn't even available as an estate (and its 400hp saloon was seriously out-muscled) whilst Mercedes' ageing W210 E55 AMG had just 354hp. And with Quattro four-wheel... BMW and Mercedes struggled to catch up - Mercedes had to add a supercharger to its 2003 W211 E55 AMG to match the RS6's performance, whilst BMW aficionados had to wait until 2005 for the appearance of an M5 Touring. With no current M5 Touring some may say BMW has never fully recovered, whilst from 2011 all US-sold E63 Mercedes AMG Estates come with four-wheel drive as standard. An estate car, however potent, isn't going tickle every fast car lover's fancy and the RS6 has never been the sharpest driving tool. Launched in the UK in September 2002, the RS6 Avant claimed the title of the world's fastest estate car and - like its saloon counterpart - was powered by a 4. 2-litre V8 boasting two turbochargers. Source: www.pistonheads.com
