The Next Audi RS6 Avant Is Going Hybrid. Here's Everything We Know

Audi

A new generation of the Audi A6 is finally here, and that means we're patiently waiting for the high-performance RS6 Avant to arrive. Audi is already developing the car, with recent spy photos and videos showing the superwagon in public—even though it's still covered in camouflage.

Despite the familiar shape, the next-generation RS6 will signal a big shift for the model as the car adopts electrification and becomes a plug-in hybrid. Specific details remain elusive, but there are hints of what's to come—no amount of camouflage or secrecy can hide the sound of the exhaust on public streets.

No doubt that the new RS6 will have a lot of power, likely 100 horsepower more than the current car. It'll also feature a new exterior in line with the current design language, a tech-heavy interior, and several additional features that we still need to learn about.

Although we don't know much about the new RS6 yet, rumors and reports continue to provide snippets of information. Here's everything we know about the new Audi RS6 Avant so far.

What Will Audi Call It?

The Audi RS6 Avant should retain its current name. Audi was going to change the names of its models based on powertrain type, but the company abandoned that scheme earlier this year, admitting it was confusing for consumers.

While the new RS6 will adopt electrical assist, it's unclear whether the naming will reflect the new plug-in hybrid powertrain. Audi uses the "e-hybrid" branding on other plug-in models, but maybe the automaker will use it as a badge on the back of the high-performance wagon.

What Will The New RS6 Avant Look Like?

2027 Audi RS6 Avant Rendering by Motor1

The A6 Avant, which debuted earlier this year, provides a good indication of what the RS variant will look like when it arrives. It should be as slippery as the A6, which Audi claims is its most aerodynamic wagon with a combustion engine ever, while retaining the same wheelbase.

Despite Audi attempting to conceal the wagon's finer details on its prototypes, the automaker has been unable to obscure the massive exhaust pipes protruding from the back, a telltale sign of the performance model.

Up front, the Audi will have a unique front bumper and grille for increased cooling capacity. It should also have RS-specific trim details, wheels, and other styling touches.

What Will Power The New RS6 Avant?

The next-generation RS6 will be a plug-in hybrid, with Audi likely to continue using a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 engine. The combination will significantly increase output, and the car could have as much as 730 horsepower. There are rumors Audi might adopt a V-6 instead, but a test vehicle in a recent spy video sure sounds like it has eight cylinders under the hood.

That amount of power in the new RS6 would leapfrog the current car, which makes 621 hp and 627 pound-feet of torque. It can hit 60 miles per hour in 3.3 seconds.

How About the Interior?

2026 Audi A6 plug-in hybrid

The Audi A6 Avant, introduced earlier this year, highlights what buyers can expect the RS6 Avant's cabin to look like. The car will feature a large, curved display with two screens—for the instruments and infotainment—which measure 11.9 and 14.5 inches, respectively, in the regular wagon.

There's also a third passenger screen that will likely be available in the RS version, too. It'll also have unique RS touches and badging throughout the cabin, sport seats, and other performance goodies that differentiate it from the rest of the A6 lineup.

Will There Be An Electric RS6?

Audi A6 Avant E-Tron

No, there won't be an electric version.

A recent report alleged that Audi has cancelled the electric RS6 E-Tron due to insufficient demand. The automaker apparently could not justify the development costs for such a model, as consumers lose interest in high-priced, high-powered electric vehicles.

The company declined to address the rumors directly, saying:

'Nevertheless, we can assure you that we are working on performance models based on the Premium Platform Electric.'

How Much Will It Cost?

The next-generation RS6 Avant will likely remain expensive. The RS6 Avant Performance that Audi sells in America today costs $131,995, which includes the $1,295 destination charge.

The addition of a hybrid powertrain with even more power is likely to increase the wagon's price tag. We wouldn't be surprised if the price tag reaches the $140,000 mark as the brand attempts to move upmarket with fancier, more expensive cars.

When Will It Debut?

Audi has provided no concrete debut date for its new high-performance wagon. The new A6 debuted earlier this year, and the hotter RS versions typically follow about a year later, so we can expect Audi to reveal the RS6 Avant sometime next year.

It likely won't go on sale in the United States until late 2026 or early 2027.