Story | William Ha Photography | Audi Media, BMW Media, William Ha
Midsize wagons are a niche vehicle segment in North America, but popular in Europe because of their versatility, nimbler handling and ability to cruise at very high speeds on their freeways.
Audi RS6 Avant Performance.
These attributes can be had in both the Audi RS6 Avant Performance and BMW M5 Touring—two exciting, esoteric and exclusive German rockets that will garner respect from car enthusiasts and valet staff alike, and more importantly, thrill you while still able to serve your family.
BMW M5 Touring(European models shown).
AUDI RS6 AVANT PERFORMANCE
Audi arguably offers the most stylish luxury vehicle lineup from top to bottom, and to no surprise, they hit a grand slam with the RS6 Avant Performance’s exterior design (RS stands for RennSport, or ‘racing sport,’ and ‘Avant’ is Audi’s term for a wagon). Sleek and wide with large wheels, it looks fast and poised for either a few racetrack laps or a long road trip.
Starting at $140,000.
Its powerplant is a rumbly twin-turbo, 4.0L V8 engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The drivetrain also features a mildhybrid system that helps save a bit of gas in stop-and-go driving. In total, you get 621 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque that can rocket you from a standstill to 100 km/h in just 3.4 seconds.
The RS6 Avant Performance also comes fully loaded with all the comfort, convenience and high-tech features you’d expect, including a 3D camera system on its 12.3-inch centre screen that displays crisp, selectable views of the vehicle’s surroundings. Being a high-end Audi, the interior is comfortable and exquisite.
You can personalize further with various exterior colours, interior designs and larger 22-inch wheels. We recommend adding the black optics package to make the exterior look sportier and more sinister. If you want even better handling performance, add the Dynamic Package with four-wheel steering and a torque-vectoring rear differential.
One unique safety feature we like is that the vehicle can detect loose wheel bolts and notify the driver, providing greater peace of mind in case a technician was not thorough while re-installing the wheels.
RS6 AVANT GT
The very rare RS6 Avant GT, which was displayed earlier this year at the Toronto auto show, sits atop Audi’s wagon portfolio. It features vintage styling decals and wheels inspired by successful Audi race cars from its past.
Even though it has the same powertrain as the RS6 Avant Performance, it includes upgrades to its suspension (adjustable coilovers, stiffer stabilizer bars), rear differential and tires that make it even more appealing and nimble. Lighter carbon fibre body parts on the hood and fenders reduce weight, contributing to better handling and an improved 0-to-100 km/h acceleration time of 3.3 seconds.
Despite its track-capable performance, it can still be daily driven, and you can choose an available adaptive air suspension system for a smoother ride.
Only 7 units are coming to Canada, while the U.S. gets 85 units (there will be 660 worldwide). There is currently still Canadian availability if you want to own this exotic wagon. For the most authentic look, choose one in white as shown.
BMW M5 TOURING
If you’re open to a high-performance plug-in hybrid wagon, the all-new BMW M5 Touring is for you.
Starting at $150,000.
Behind the lighted new-look grille is a 4.4L twinturbo V8 engine paired with a 14.8 kWh battery pack and an 8-speed transmission. This drivetrain produces a combined 717 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque, able to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.6 seconds.
When fully charged, you get about 40 km of allelectric range, which will reduce your premium fuel bill and satisfy the frugal part of you. In warm weather, you can fully charge the battery in as little as 2 hours using an 11-kW charger.
Like the Audi, the M5 Touring offers many personalization options. The interior is comfortable, tech-laden, and sporty-feeling with a thick steering wheel. Strangely, you have to pony up for key driver assist features like adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist, but they are worth adding, along with the Advanced Driver Assistant Package that bumps the top speed from 250 km/h to 305 km/h, and gets you a track day to enjoy your vehicle more. If you intend to take the vehicle to the racetrack often, the available carbon ceramic brakes should also be added.
The cargo area is slightly smaller than the Audi’s, but 500 litres of cargo capacity and up to 1,630 litres with the second-row seats folded are good for a non-SUV.
Since high-tech electronics are an automotive luxury hallmark, the M5 Touring features Parking Assistant Professional, which can help you autonomously park the vehicle into a space with you inside or outside the vehicle. It can also pull out of parking spaces and crawl to you, and when you are not in the vehicle, you can monitor the parking execution on your smartphone via the BMW brand app. Very few owners will use this feature, but it’s a technological flex and an example of the many innovations European luxury automakers take the lead in offering.
