Awesome Audi

Motoring editor ALASTAIR SLOANE explains how the new Audi got all those letters after its name.

It's world of alphabet soup, high-tech performance cars. Audi's latest RS6, to be unveiled at the Geneva motor show next month and available in New Zealand early next year, comes with electronic aids DRC, ESP, ABS, EBD, EDL, ASR and MSR.

Each one is there to help prevent the careless driver from losing control and going backwards through a hedge. That's pretty much it. Collectively, the gizmos will surrender to the laws of physics once the driver goes beyond the point of no return.

Those rich enough to buy top-end fast cars know how to handle them, right? Wrong. Panelbeaters tell fun stories about the wealthy and their wheels. Mostly, the accidents happen to get-rich-quick types within days of ownership. Sometimes within hours.

Like the computer industry hotshot who ran out of road in his $100,000 Holden. Or the Porsche buyer who went sideways into a power pole. It was a $220,000 four-wheel-drive Porsche, too, with ABS and EBD and Uncle Tom Cobbley and all.

No amount of wizardy will prevent a prang. But the sensible driver uses it to enjoy the car's ability. Walter Rohrl, the great German rally driver, leaves the traction control on in his day-to-day Porsche. If the instrument panel light flashes on, indicating the safety system had to kick in, Rohrl knows he got a bit sloppy at the wheel.

Rohrl is remembered in this part of the world mostly for his drives in the Audi Quattro in the early 1980s. The Quattro spawned the lickety-split Audi all-wheel-drive RS models. The first was the RS2, developed with Porsche. Than came the RS4. Now it's the RS6 with its lineup of letters.

ABS means anti-lock brakes. Pretty much every carmaker uses the system. ESP is electronic stability programme, not extrasensory perception. Although the two could be said to be similarly uncanny. ESP is not uncommon these days, either.

Nor is EBD, for electronic brake force distribution, ortraction control systems ASR, for anti-slip regulation, and EDL, for electronic differential lock. There are all designed to basically keep the car on the straight and narrow.

MSR means engine drag torque control, Audi-speak for distributing optimum power to all four wheels, and DRC means dynamic ride control, again Audi-speak for flatter cornering.

Audi says DRC uses an interconnected oil-based damping system which reacts to suspension compression during cornering and modifies the damping characteristics to almost completely eliminate rolling or pitching movements. DRC operates in conjunction with the ESP. Other carmakers use similar systems.

Such an aid is seen as important in a car powered by a twin-turbocharged, 40-valve, 4.2-litre V8 producing 331kW (450 bhp) between 5700 rpm and 6400 rpm and 560Nm of torque, most of it between 1950 rpm and 5600 rpm.

The RS6 gets from zero to 100 km/h in under five seconds and on to 200 km/h in 18 seconds. Top speed is a governed 250 km/h.

The RS6, available in both sedan and Avant body styles, uses a modified version of the Quattro system and five-speed tiptronic transmission with specially designed programme modes.

There is also a new braking system incorporating floating composite brake discs of 365mm diameter at the front and 335mm at the rear. Standard wheels are 18-inch alloys, with 19-inch alloys optional.

The front of the car is characterised by three large air intakes. This design principle is echoed at the rear with three smaller but visually identical grille inserts.

The Avant has a spoiler on the rear roof, the sedan's is on the boot lid. Audi says the interior of the RS6 is crafted in keeping with the car's dynamic image. The Recaro sports use a special upholstery.

The steering wheel rim and gear-lever knob are trimmed with perforated leather. The gearbox gate is of matt aluminium, and the inside door handles of matt black anodised material.

There is a choice of two interior colours, black or silver. Six exterior colours are available, each linked to motorsport: Avus Silver, Misano Red, Goodwood Green, Mugello Blue and Daytona Grey. Black is also available.

Right-hand-drive production of both body styles has been confirmed and the few units to be allocated to New Zealand are expected to arrive next year. Prices and exact specifications are yet to be confirmed. As with previous RS models, it is expected that the New Zealand allocation will be sold out before the first cars arrive.