American consumers have little to no shot at buying the 2018 Audi RS6 Avant

Sometimes, we wish an automotive industry rumor never comes true. Such is the case with the Audi RS6 Avant. American consumers do not have a lot of choices when it comes to purchasing high-performance station wagons, as American automakers avoid designing and manufacturing wagons to pursue the development of more profitable SUVs. American consumers are partly to blame for the station wagon shortage, as demand for SUVs is much stronger.

However, if we had to select only one wagon to offer American consumers, it would be the RS6 Avant. Unfortunately, it appears Audi is not bringing the high-performance wagon to the United States. In a recent Car and Driver interview, Audi CEO, Stephan Winklemann stated the RS6 has a slight chance of making a debut in the United States, but only after the company performs a redesign after receiving feedback from European consumers.

Other rumors are also spreading the online claim Audi will never land the RS6 Avant on American soil. This means the “slight” reference made by Winklemann actually means “None.”

Why the Audi RS6 Matters

The Internet is abuzz with comments from online journalists that praise the impressive performance of the Audi RS6. Designed to closely follow the design of the A6 Avant, the RS6 boasts an engine that delivers powerful 597 horsepower and 515 pounds-feet of torque. The four-wheel drive wagon includes an eight-speed gearbox that allows drivers hit a maximum speed that exceeds the maximum speed of the RS6’s closest supercar, the Audi R8. An exterior design that dramatically reduces wind drag further boosts the performance of a wagon that most Americans will never get to enjoy, unless they visit Europe and bring the wagon home to the United States.

Why Slight Means None

We have read online rumors from both consumers and automotive industry analysts that if Audi decides to offer the RS6 Avant to American consumers, it would be designed to resemble the current A4 Allroad. The A4 Allroad version of the RS6 will be larger and considerably faster than the current A4 Allroad. This means Audi would add body cladding and create a higher ride height to develop a vehicle that appeals to American consumers smitten by SUV designs. We think the modifications will not diminish the popularity of the RS6 in the United States, but we have reservations that the RS6 in any form will ever navigate American terrain.

In the Car and Driver interview, Winklemann discusses how Quattro GmbH is not interested in designing and manufacturing vehicles that do not mimic the body work of other vehicles in it class. The same principle applies to the RS6, but the wrinkle here is that the modifications rumored to prompt Audi to offer the RS6 in the United States do not have design similarities with any other Audi vehicle. As Winklemann said, “It’s a nice dream, but I think we have so much in front of us that the most important thing is to get the lineup where we need it."

We can dream, can’t we?