Time to lobby AoA if you want to see the RS6. A little birdie told me between 550 and 600hp

[April]

but with an expected price point in the range of a well optioned Maserati Quattroporte or Mercedes S55 AMG - and exchange rates such as they are, it's not making much sense to import it at the moment. AoA is lobbying Germany to let them bring it anyway. Since AoA is under mandate to start making money instead of losing it as they have for years, the R8 is considered a better bet for raising brand cachet and awareness given finite resources.

Any encouragement you can send their way would be welcome.

Send your mail to:

Audi Customer Relations
3499 W. Hamlin Road
Mail Stop 2-West
Rochester Hills, MI 48309

[Spider99]

I can see the logic. Why pay 120K for an RS6? They are much better cars for that price range.

I never understood the logic regarding the RS6. Audi always brings it out during the tail end of the model cycle... they should tune it to go right at the M5, E63 etc in the beginning and be done with it. It just gets lost in the shuffle.

[hemants]

and give it Airmatic suspension!

[April]

Why bother releasing it at the same time? 2008 isn't the end of the C6 cycle. Why won't the other manufacturers match Audi's release dates and why are they playing catchup with each new generation of cars after Audi has released a more powerful version (old RS6, S8, RS4)? It's not like the current E63 came at the same time as the M5. This is more of a Maserati or Jr Bentley type of sedan, which is why Audi isn't sure the market is ready for it here. Since you don't seem to see any need for it, you will be relieved to know Audi thinks the same;-)

As I pointed out North America isn't a money maker for Audi, so Audi goes with what makes sense for them in Europe. The difference is that they do it with way fewer people and resources when compared to what BMW and Mercedes use to accomplish the job. That's why the hot-rod models come out later. They don't have the people to do it all at once. Handing it off to Cosworth or Quattro gmbh takes just as long, because those teams need to reverse engineer the systems and decide what to upgrade after the fact.

Anybody notice how few problems there have been with the C6? Sure, some software updates that usually fix the problem the first time around and random glitches, but no rash of problems compared to the 5 series or even the Benz. That team sweated the details like crazy, and they continue to do so, updating parts that show signs of failure, documenting software problems, etc. They learned for the C5 and moved forward.

[April]

[Spider99]

Look at the RS4, it's the answer to the current M3, whereas BMW is already working on the next generation.

As much as I love Audis, they do not have the cache in the US like the other 2. Audi has to work harder at convincing the public that they arent just late to the party. Coming out with the RS6 within 2-3 years instead of 4, would help. Because by then BMW is already onto the next 5-series bodystyle.

[April]

Audis have never been about absolute horsepower at the expense of other priorities, and I think the recent inroads with regards to reliability is a huge step in the right direction. More so perhaps than making flashy models that sell in limited numbers. Retaining owners is much cheaper than conquesting new ones.

The trick is to get away from the old school cheapskates who were weaned on Audi incentives rather than compare the cars directly with the competition. It's part of way Audi is considered 2nd tier. Very complicated and interdependent.

Neither Mercedes or BMW has anything to compete with the R8 - let alone Porsche.

[Spider99]

I'm drooling over the R8. That'll be my next car after I've had my fun with the S6!

[drive4fun]

German auto companies are clearly very political, and the increasing power of the Porsche family in VW affairs troubles me. Hopefully, this reluctance to import the RS6 isn't a sign that the Porsche will try to dumb down Audi to make room for their Panamerica. After all, this company dumbed down the Cayman to protect their super-high margin 911.

[April]

to the same level as the competition too soon while dealers aren't ready. Sales margins still aren't anywhwre nearly good enough to attract the top serice and sales folk. We have some wonderfully dedicated people, but not nearly enough.