by During testing at the Nürburgring, a prototype of the new Audi RS6 was involved in an accident. The incident occurred due to the car’s insufficient turn-in on one of the right-hand corners.
Details of the incident on the track
Recently, Audi Sport engineers have significantly improved the handling of their models, especially thanks to the advanced torque vectoring system on the rear axle, which debuted on the 2022 RS3. However, the new RS6 appears to still require refinements to eliminate its tendency to oversteer in sharp corners.
During another test lap, the driver entered a right-hand turn too aggressively, the car lost traction with the road and crashed into a tire barrier. Fortunately, the tires softened the impact, but the car’s suspension likely sustained damage. Immediately after the collision, the driver contacted the team via radio, reporting an unfortunate mistake.
Should you worry about the handling?
While it is easy to blame the classic understeer typical of older Audis for the accident, it is currently impossible to know for sure whether certain systems that could have affected the car’s behavior were being tested at the time. Based on early reviews of the new RS5 generation, one can be confident that all shortcomings will be addressed before the model hits the market.
What will the engine be like?
The technical specifications of the new RS6 remain a mystery. It is unknown whether the engine displacement will be reduced from a V8 to a V6, using the same 2.9-liter hybrid setup as the RS5. A far more interesting option is the use of a 4.0-liter hybrid V8 engine from the Bentley Continental GT Speed, which produces 771 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque. This would allow the RS6 to compete on equal footing with the BMW M5.
“Audi’s next RS6 crashed during testing at the Nurburgring. Prototype understeered into a tire barrier on a right-hand corner. A 771-hp plug-in V8 from Bentley remains a real possibility.”
The accident at the Nürburgring is not a cause for panic, but rather a reminder of how complex the process of perfecting modern high-performance cars is. The engineers have gained valuable data on the car’s behavior at the limit, allowing them to fine-tune the suspension and electronics. The choice of powertrain will be a key factor in the model’s success: if Audi decides to use the powerful hybrid V8 from Bentley, it will not only provide impressive dynamics but also allow compliance with modern environmental standards, while preserving the DNA of a true sports wagon.
