One of the coolest-looking race cars of all time is the 1989 Audi 90 Quattro IMSA GTO, a widebody tube-frame monster that put out around 720 horsepower from a small turbocharged five-cylinder engine and led Hans-Joachim Stuck to third place in the driver’s championship. Now Audi is resurrecting the spirit of the GTO racer with the new RS6 GT, a special edition that will mark the end of current-gen RS6 production.
The GT’s new front bumper has larger intakes and a lower splitter, and the section that surrounds the singleframe grille and side intakes is finished in gloss black. The hood is made out of carbon fiber and has a tweaked design, and the carbon-fiber front fenders have integrated air outlets that look very cool. I also love the 22-inch six-spoke wheels that call back to models like the B5 S4 of the late ‘90s, though I wish the GT had an aerodisc option like the GTO.
Audi also removed the roof rails, fitted a larger spoiler at the top of the hatch and gave the GT a unique rear diffuser design. Strangely, Audi says all of the new styling elements weren’t designed with improved aerodynamics or downforce in mind; it was really just about the looks. The RS6 GT will be offered in Arkona White, Nardo Gray, Chronos Gray Metallic, Madeira Brown Metallic and Mythos Black Metallic, but the U.S. will only get the wagon in white. A decal package inspired by the IMSA car is available, and the wheels can be finished in white or either gloss or matte black.
The interior is less exciting. Almost every surface is covered in black leather or microfiber that’s accented by red and copper stitching, and there are RS6 GT badges and emblems all over. European customers get the option of awesome carbon-backed bucket seats; all U.S. RS6 GTs will have the standard performance seats. We get red seat belts, at least, and there’s a plaque on the center console that denotes the car’s serial number.
If you’re hoping for more power, prepare to be disappointed. The RS6 GT uses the same twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 as the RS6 Performance, with 621 hp and 627 pound-feet of torque. Audi says it will reach 60 mph in 3.3 seconds and hit a top speed of 190 mph, the latter of which is 15 mph higher than a standard RS6, and the overall weight of the RS6 has been reduced by 33 pounds.
In an unexpected move for a car like this, the RS6 GT is fitted with adjustable coilover suspension as standard. These coilovers lower the ride height by 0.4 inches and have stiffer stabilizers, a higher spring rate and three-way adjustable dampers. But, if you so desire, customers can order the normal RS6's standard air suspension setup or the optional Dynamic Ride Control. The RS6 GT also has its own tuning for the rear differential, and new Continental Sport Contact 7 tires that are said to offer improved braking performance and better grip in both the dry and the wet.
Audi is only going to build 660 RS6 GTs, of which 85 are coming to the U.S. and seven are headed to Canada. While the cars start on the same production line as the regular RS6 in Neckarsulm, Germany, final assembly happens in Böllinger Höfe, where the R8 and E-Tron GT are built. There, a small team of just seven employees is tasked with finishing the RS6 GT. Pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but expect it to carry a hefty premium over the base RS6's $126,895 starting price.
As for the next-generation RS6, things will get a little confusing. The current A6 will be replaced by the fully electric A6 E-Tron, which will come in both Sportback and Avant body styles — yes, a wagon will still be offered. But there will also be an internal-combustion A7, also in Sportback and Avant guises, that act as a more direct successor with a hybrid powertrain.
