The Audi RS 6 Avant might be the company's signature product these days, packaging supercar performance within the subdued panache of a station wagon. Given its cult status and popularity within enthusiast circles, all eyes are on Audi as it prepares the next-generation model for a debut later this year. And unfortunately, those eyes saw more than Audi would've liked at the Nürburgring recently, as a camouflaged test model understeered into a wall during performance evaluations. What Exactly Happened To The RS 6? CarSpyMedia, which regularly posts footage and photos of upcoming models to social media, uploaded a video to YouTube a few days ago, depicting the forthcoming RS 6 Avant undergoing some testing at the 'Ring. It handles most of the corners just fine, with some kind of internal combustion engine exhaling through gaping exhausts located near the middle of the rear bumper. But just before the two-minute mark, the station wagon comes into a corner too hot, and despite the driver's efforts to quell the problem, it slides directly into an outside tire wall. Damage to the car appears minor and superficial in the video, with the only obvious issues being some cracked bumper plastic and peeling camo wrap that betrays little else besides the paint – potentially Ascari or Ultra Blue by the looks of it. The driver carefully guides the RS 6 back onto the pavement and goes through the next few corners at a very slow pace, entering the Carousel – one of the most famous corners at the Nürburgring – without even approaching the banking. What Went Wrong At The Nürburgring? As for why the crash happened in the first place, it could've been a combination of factors. Driver error or inattention may have been to blame; pre-production testers often have monitoring programs and alerts that could have distracted the person behind the wheel. The track-off also happened in the section of the Green Hell where a fatal collision occurred just two weeks ago due to some oil on the surface of the pavement. It's possible that some residue may have been left behind. And then of course, there's the question of inherently unbalanced handling. The next-gen RS 6 is rumored to have a plug-in hybrid powertrain, like its BMW M5 Touring rival and RS 5 kid brother. The heavy PHEV battery gives the Bimmer a staggering 5,500-pound curb weight, while the smaller RS5 Avant checks in at 5,200 pounds. And combined with the RS 6's unusual, front-drive–biased Premium Platform Combustion architecture, weight balance could be a big problem for anyone who plans to take their high-dollar station wagon to the track. When Does The RS 6 Avant Debut? Audi's biggest station wagon will arrive in time for the 2027 model year, meaning we can probably expect a full debut in late summer or early autumn. Specs for the RS 6 Avant have been hard to come by, but based on the rather subdued exhaust noise of the pre-pro example caught on video, we suspect it may have a twin-turbocharged V6 instead of the current model's boosted 4.0-liter V8. Expect power and torque to rise over both its predecessor and its RS 5 sibling. Figure around 700 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque from the RS 6. CarBuzz/ValnetWhile it's all but guaranteed to be a straight-line rocket, we hope Audi's latest performance flagship also offers unflappable handling composure that meets or equals its high-speed grand touring predecessor. That's why the company tests on the Nürburgring, and hopefully the recent crash will help the 2027 RS 6 Avant to be even better than it would be otherwise.