Pricing Announced for 450-hp 2003 Audi RS 6 Sports Sedan
April 10, 2003
Audi has announced pricing for its mighty RS 6 -- $82,700. Inspired by Audi's Le Mans-winning R8 race car, the RS 6 is among the fastest five-passenger sports sedans ever to enter the U.S. market, with a claimed 0-60 mph time of just 4.6 seconds and an electronically governed top speed of 155 mph. Power for this thoroughbred comes from a modified Audi 4.2-liter, biturbo V-8 producing a 450 horsepower and 415 lbs. ft. of torque.
The RS 6 is the first Audi to offer the company's innovative active suspension system -- Dynamic Ride Control (DRC) -- using diagonally connected, hydraulically dampened shock absorbers. Compared to the A6, the suspension is lowered by 25 millimeters and the shocks have 40 percent increased compression damping. In addition, the RS 6 has a 30 percent stiffer spring rate and is outfitted with larger stabilizer bars. The brake system incorporates 14-inch front and 13-inch rear discs of a composite design; a cast friction ring is fixed to an aluminum brake-disc hub by 14 pins. The "floating" configuration improves stability of the discs, particularly when exposed to extreme loads and high temperature. The RS 6 comes with a high level of standard features, including a Tiptronic five-speed automatic transmission with "Sport" setting; 18-inch cast-aluminum, nine-spoke wheels and 255/40ZR18 performance tires; a six-disc in-dash Symphony II Radio; Bose 200-watt premium sound system with subwoofer; leather upholstery and a power glass slide/tilt sunroof with sunshade, just to name a few.
A short list of optional equipment includes a Warm Weather Package, consisting of a solar sunroof, power rear window sun shade and manual rear side window sun shades ($1000), Audi navigation system ($1,350), rear side airbags ($350), carbon fiber interior trim ($300), and sound enhancing exhaust system with black exhaust tips ($950).
The 2003 Audi RS 6 arrives in the U.S. in July 2003 and is produced by quattro GmbH, the high-performance arm of Audi AG. The RS 6 is the first U.S.-market model by quattro GmbH, the group known for the critically acclaimed RS 4 model sold throughout Europe and other major markets.