AUDI S6 Avant Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Audi stormed the market in the summer of 2024 with a new naming system for its vehicles and the high-performance S6 Avant e-tron as its family's most potent electric vehicle to that date.

The German automaker changed the naming system of its vehicles by using even numbers for EVs and odd nameplates for the ICE-powered ones. As a result, the A6 lineup became an electron-powered range of cars offered in two shapes: sedans and station wagons. The former was known as the Sportback, while the latter used Audi's traditional Avant moniker. Audi didn't change that. Besides the regular versions, the automaker also launched the S6 Avant and the S6 Sportback as the most potent models from the range. However, the automaker hinted that more versions would follow with higher numbers in the power output column.

Along with the 2025 A6 lineup, the German premium automaker introduced a new interpretation of the singleframe grille design language, named inverted face. Like its siblings, the 2025 Audi S6 Avant had a shorter hexagonal-shaped panel at the front. In the upper section, the automaker placed its famous four-ring badge, which was illuminated instead of chromed like most other Audis from the past. A pair of side-mounted vertical gaps opened in the apron for the air curtains, flanking a trapezoidal-shaped air intake that cooled the car's electronic management system and housed the radar for the advanced safety systems.

The car's profile revealed an athletic look, with a tall greenhouse that sported a curved, sloped-down roofline. At the back, the tailgate had a roof spoiler at the top, while below the rear windscreen, the digital OLED taillights extended from side to side. The wrapped-around bumper had a functional diffuser on the lower side, enhancing aerodynamics. Audi placed charging ports on both rear quarter panels, which wasn't the usual norm for an EV, but it was needed due to the unique PPE platform that the car relied on. The four-ring brand installed standard 20" alloy wheels with an option for a 21-inch set.

Inside, the automaker created a luxurious and sporty ambiance with high-bolstered bucket seats and integrated S badges on the tall seatbacks. Like its regular A6 sibling, the 2025 Audi S6 Avant had a curved display atop the dashboard, with a display for the instrument panel fronting the driver and a touchscreen for the infotainment system above the center stack. In addition, the automaker added a third touch-sensitive display in front of the side passenger, who could access media, view movies, and check the Internet while on the go. The automaker used AI technology for the interior and included ChatGPT for the MMI (Audi infotainment unit). In the back, the split-folding (40/20/40) bench seat could accommodate three passengers with plenty of legroom and headroom.

Under its skin, the 2025 Audi S6 Avant had two motors, one for each axle, that combined produced 370 kW (496 hp) in normal mode, while 405 kW (543 hp) were available when the launch control was engaged. The 800-volt technology of the vehicle allowed it to be recharged from 10 to 80 % in just 21 minutes. If an 800-volt charging station wasn't available, customers could use two 400-volt ports and replenish the 100 kW battery pack from both sides, hence the dual ports on the rear quarter panels.

Audi introduced the fifth generation of the A6, known as the C8 generation, in 2018 and reserved the unveiling of the S6 version for the following year, in the summer of 2019.

The S-branded products were sought after by the brand’s fans since they provided more power, more performance, and sportier styling. All of them shared some particular details that made them stand apart from the rest of the lineups to which they belonged.

Audi made the S6 available in two bodywork shapes: the S6 sedan and the S6 Avant, which was the carmaker’s name for station wagons. Strangely enough, the automaker chose to provide these sporty versions with completely different engines for the European market and for the North American one. While the folks from the Old Continent got a turbo diesel, U.S. customers received a turbocharged gasoline-powered V6 unit.

From the outside, the S6 Avant looked very similar to the rest of the A6 range, although it sported a few unique details that made it stand apart. At the front, it featured a lower apron adorned by a splitter and a pair of wide side scoops that cooled the front brakes.

The single-frame grille was silver and adorned by an S6 quattro badge. As an option, customers could order the car with a carbon fiber package that replaced the chromed elements and the silver door mirror caps with black ones. From its profile, a keen eye for detail could notice the lower ground clearance compared to the regular A6 Avant.

At the back, the automaker placed a massive diffuser and a pair of dual exhausts that flanked it, although, in the diesel version, those were fake. Atop the tailgate, Audi installed a roof spoiler that allegedly made the car more planted to the road at higher speeds since it improved airflow.

Inside, the automaker placed a set of sport bucket seats covered in leather and sporting the S6 logos on their tall seatbacks with integrated headrests. Fronting the driver was a flat-bottom steering wheel adorned with the same logo and the Audi Virtual Cockpit display for the instrument cluster. In addition, a second wide touchscreen filled the middle of the center stack.

The center console that separated the front occupants housed the gear selector, two cup holders, and a few buttons, including the one for adjusting the sound system’s volume. In the back, it was the same bench seat as in the regular A6 Avant, although covered in leather and sporting a unique, diamond-shaped pattern.

Under the hood, Europeans got a mild-hybrid system powered by a 3.0-liter turbo diesel that was helped by an electric compressor to achieve a maximum output of 349 PS (344 hp) and an excellent torque of 700 Nm (516 lb-ft.) that was sent in all corners via an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Customers outside Europe were granted a twin-turbo 2.9-liter gasoline V6 engine that developed 450 PS (444 hp) and 600 Nm (443 lb-ft.) of torque. This version could rocket the massive station wagon from naught to 60 miles per hour (0-97 kph) in 4.4 seconds.

Audi introduced a mid-life cycle refresh for the A6 range and involved the S6 version in the process, creating an even faster station wagon for the S6 Avant.

Starting with September 2015, all cars registered in the European Union must have the Euro 6b emission standard compliant, and Audi had to adapt. With all eyes on it, the carmaker had to adapt and adjust its engines but, instead of limiting the power, it gave even more for the S-version A6.

The S6 and its more potent brother RS6 were some of the most powerful sleeper vehicles on the market. Their station-wagon shapes didn't leave too many clues about their performance. In the S6 Avant shape, the large estate vehicle featured a similar shape to the rest of the range. Its sliver casings for the door-mirrors and the small specific badge on the singleframe grille were hard to notice in traffic. The carmaker offered the S6 with a standard adaptive air-suspension that lowered the ground clearance by 20 mm (0.8") for less ground-effect drag.

Inside, the carmaker installed sport bucket-seats at the front with integrated headrests. Their high-bolstered design made them very supportive during hard cornering. Audi installed a pop-up retractable screen for the MMI (Multi Media Infotainment) unit on the dashboard, with a turning knob controller between the front seats but without a touch-screen. Its instrument cluster featured four analog dials and a TFT display in the middle. In the back, the S6 Avant offered room for three, despite its tall center transmission tunnel. The split-folding bench was wide enough for that.

Under the hood, Audi kept the older 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged gasoline engine but increased its power by 30 hp when compared to the non-facelifted S6 version.

With the world financial crisis over and the re-shaped economy rising, Audi rushed to offer a new S version for the fourth generation of the A6 Avant.

Audi launched the fourth generation of the A6 in early 2011 for the European market, and one year later, it was available everywhere else. Like all its predecessors, it was available in two body versions: sedan and station wagon, the latter being traditionally named Avant by the carmaker. The S-model was a sportier version and featured a few differences when compared to the standard model.

Audi had a special package named S-line, which the customer could add on any less-powered version of the A6 Avant, while the S6 was the real deal. It sported silver door mirror caps and a red and gray logo on the massive, singleframe grille. On the sides, Audi installed V8T badges on the front fenders, while at the back, it installed an aluminum-like shield under the bumper, flanked by two twin elliptical pipes. At the top of the tailgate, the carmaker added a roof spoiler.

Inside, the S6 Avant featured an elegant yet sporty interior. Audi placed an S6 badge on the steering wheel and embroidered it on the seatbacks of the front seats. The same logo appeared on the instrument panel on the center TFT display between the tachometer and the speedometer. A few carbon-fiber trims adorned the door panels and the center console.

But the S6 Avant was about what was under the bodywork. Audi installed a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 under the car's hood. It paired it with a seven-speed automatic (dual-clutch) gearbox. It sent the 420 hp to all corners via a Torsen center differential, not a Haldex system.

The 2008 Audi S6 Avant combined three attributes: a big trunk, a luxurious interior, and a supercar engine, resulting in a fast station wagon that could put many sportscars behind.

Audi unveiled the C6 Audi S6 at the 2006 North American International Motor Show in Detroit and brought a facelifted version for it in 2008. The car was available as a sedan or a station wagon.

The 2008 S6 Avant didn't look like a vehicle able to top the zero to 60 (0-97 kph) in less than six seconds. Its front fascia showed little about what the vehicle was capable of. The new, refreshed look showed five LEDs on each side, installed lower on the bumper, as daytime running lights. Its singleframe grille with the gray and red S6 badge on it. At the back, Audi installed new LED taillights that enhanced the car's look from behind. Four oval exhausts flanked the rear diffuser.

Inside, Audi introduced a new MMI system with a special combination of CD/DVD/Navigation and a 40 GB hard disk to store MP3s or up to 5000 addresses. That came to complete the exclusive interior with high-bolstered front seats with integrated headrests for the front occupants. As a station wagon, the S6 Avant offered a vast trunk room, with 546 liters (19,2 cu-ft) of space that could be extended up to 1660 liters (70,3 cu-ft) of space with the rear seats folded.

Under the hood, the carmaker kept the same V-10 engine carried over from Lamborghini Gallardo but detuned to 435 hp. Both the automatic transmission and the all-wheel-drive traction were standard features for the S6 Avant.

The 2006 Audi S6 has received also a station-wagon version. It was the model with the biggest gasoline engine ever installed inside an A6 shell, sedan or station-wagon.

On the big, single-frame grille with chromed accents for its rim and vertical bars, the red and silver S6 badge stood discreetly. Five LEDs on each side, installed under the headlights, were telling a story: one LED for each cylinder under the hood. There were some other details such as V12 badges on the fenders and silver rear-view mirror cases, but the last thing that most of the other motorists on the road would see were the four oval exhausts were nicely integrated into the rear bumper. The trunk room was vast, with 546 liters (19,2 cu-ft) of space, that could be extended up to 1660 liters (70,3 cu-ft) of space with the rear seats folded.

Inside, there was a new infotainment unit, named MMI which integrated the navigation, controls for heating and ventilation, and audio unit. It was an all-in-one system accessible via a rotary knob on the center console, with few buttons around it.

The 5,2-liter V10 engine was on the shelf and it already found its way into the A8 model. But the engineers didn't want to give the same power to the S6 as in the flagship model. So, they detuned it to 440 hp. For the transmission, a 6-speed Tiptronic gearbox was supplied by the ZF and a Torsen center differential with a 40:60 torque distribution was in place to enhance the driving experience.

Following the launch of the second generation of the A6 station-wagon in 1998, Audi introduced the more powerful version S6 Avant in 1999, along with the S6 Sedan.

The second generation of the Audi S6 Avant was based on the newly-developed C5 platform. It was more than an A6 Avant with different badges. It was offered with more powerful engines and stiffer suspensions that made the car planted to the road. The all-wheel-drive was fitted as standard.

There were some differences between the fierce S6 Avant and a regular A6 Avant. The light-alloy wheels had the design inspired by the Audi TT. The front fenders and the sills were slightly wider. The lowered and stiffened suspension was engineered specially for the S6 range. Two exhaust pipes with chromed tips were fitted as standard on the car. A badge on the grille and one in the back completed the exterior differences.

Inside, the S6 featured high bolstered seats for the front passengers, which ensured better side support on cornering. A set of sport-bucket seats designed by Recaro was on the options list. The rear split-folding bench was kept, just in case something long and heavy had to be delivered fast on the other side of the country.

On the engineering side, the S6 Avant was a completely different car than the rest of the A6 range. The all-wheel-drive system was tuned for performance, with Torsen center differential, and electronic differential locks both front and rear (EDL) managed by the Bosch ESP system. The engine was a 4.2-liter V8 with 340 hp, 40 more than the standard Audi A6 4.2-liter. The car was available with either a 6-speed manual or a 5-speed auto, with manual override for changing gears (Tiptronic).

Audi renamed the last generation of the 100 Avant as A6 Avant when it introduced its facelifted version in 1994, and it also offered it with a sportier version named S6 Avant.

While Mercedes-Benz and BMW started to offer a more powerful version for their mid-size sedans, Audi came with the idea of offering a sportier version for its mid-size station wagon vehicle, the S6 Avant. It offered something different than its main competitors and placed its bets on those who still enjoyed fast cruising but still able to carry a family of five and a trunk full of bicycles.

The S6 was based on the same platform as the last Audi 100 model but with serious upgrades underneath. From the outside, it was a sleeper, without too many details that could tell the difference. The main differences were the red and gray badge on the front grille, the unique alloy wheels, and the tiny roof spoiler at the top of the tailgate.

Inside, the S6 offered room for five and comfort for all of them, with sport bucket seats at the front and leather upholstery. For the kids' bicycles, the S6 Avant offered a big trunk in the back. With the rear seats up, it could get up to 390 liters (13.8 cu-ft) of space and up to 1,310 liters (46.3 cu-ft) with the rear seats folded.

Under the hood, there was an inline-five engine, the same as the original Audi S1 rally car. The carmaker replaced the turbocharged gasoline unit later with a naturally aspirated 4.2-liter V8 unit. While the 2.2-liter was available with a 6-speed manual (5-speed for the U.S. market) only, the V8 was fitted as standard with a four-speed automatic, and a 6-speed manual was offered as an option.