---
title: "Behold the First Ever Hybrid Audi RS6 Avant"
description: "It even has a NOS-like Magic Button to increase power for short durations."
date: "2018-07-05"
modified: "2018-07-05"
authors:
  - name: "Chris Constantine"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/chris-constantine.md"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/21968/behold-the-first-ever-hybrid-audi-rs6-avant"
categories:
  - "Audi News"
  - "Builds"
  - "Culture"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
tags:
  - "ABT"
  - "Audi"
  - "Concept Cars"
  - "hybrid"
  - "RS6"
  - "RS6 Avant"
  - "Wagon"
---

# Behold the First Ever Hybrid Audi RS6 Avant

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/07/csm_abt_rs6-e_concept_stehend-7_4145d1f70b.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

ABT Sportsline, the tuning company responsible for [Audi's Formula E](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/20970/audis-daniel-abt-wins-the-formula-e-berlin-e-prix-on-home-soil.md>) race cars, has created the world's first Audi RS6 Avant with a hybrid powertrain. The 1,005 horsepower [ABT RS6-E concept](<https://www.abt-sportsline.de/en/tuning/models/special-editions/abt-rs6-e/>) gives us a glimpse of what tuning hybrid and electric vehicles will be like in the future.

To create the RS6-E, ABT took the already venerable 597-horsepower RS6 Performance and added an [ABT Engine Control](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/18206/the-abt-audi-rs4-is-a-510-hp-super-wagon.md>) module and new exhaust system to the car's 4.0-liter, biturbo V8, bumping power up to 720 horses. The car also has a 286-horsepower electric motor attached to its transmission tunnel, which can boost the RS6-E's total output to 1,005 horsepower and 952 pound-feet of torque when the driver pushes the ABT "Magic Button" on the steering wheel.

Think of it like the boost system in [Porsche's E-Hybrid](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/20614/the-2019-porsche-cayenne-e-hybrid-is-a-plug-in-suv-with-hypercar-blood.md>) models, or as Formula E racer Daniel Abt puts it, like the NOS button in *The Fast and the Furious* movies. Unfortunately, this button can only be activated above 60 mph and for only about 10 seconds at a time due to heating problems. Boosted or not, the RS6-E darts to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds and to a top speed of almost 199 mph. Not bad for a wagon that weighs 4,300 pounds stock and has a 13.6 kWh battery in the trunk.

![message-editor%2F1530815747532-abt\_audi\_rs6-e\_concept\_\_front\_stehend-1.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1530815747532-abt_audi_rs6-e_concept__front_stehend-1.jpg>)
**ABT Sportsline**

Other modifications to the car include an ABT front lip, rear spoiler, side skirts, fender inserts, mirror caps, and front and rear fascia add-ons. It also sports ABT's new 21-inch Sport GR wheels with aero rings, a design that first debuted on [Jon Olsson's ABT RS6+ Phoenix](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/18760/pro-skier-jon-olsson-unveils-his-735-hp-two-tone-audi-rs6-avant.md>).

Sadly, the RS6-E is but a prototype for now, and ABT has no plans to put it into production. Rather, the car is a fun side project to help the tuners experiment with hybrid performance. Daniel Abt, son of ABT Sportsline owner Hans-Jurgen Abt, explains his vision for the RS6-E and demonstrates the car's insane acceleration in the video below.

https://youtube.com/embed/Pxak7Xqwphk

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/GT_ISO>)  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/GT_ISO>)

## More

- [Pro Skier Jon Olsson Unveils His 735-HP Two Tone Audi RS6 Avant](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/18760/pro-skier-jon-olsson-unveils-his-735-hp-two-tone-audi-rs6-avant.md>)
- [The 705-Horsepower Audi RS6 Avant Performance Nogaro Edition Is One Angry Über-Wagon](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/18595/the-705-horsepower-audi-rs6-avant-performance-nogaro-edition-is-one-angry-ber-wagon.md>)
- [I Owned a 2021 Audi RS6 Avant for a Year. It Is the Best Car Audi’s Ever Made](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/i-owned-a-2021-audi-rs6-avant-for-a-year-it-is-the-best-car-audis-ever-made.md>)
- [The First Totaled 2021 Audi RS6 Avant Is Here, And It’s For Sale](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/38467/the-first-totaled-2021-audi-rs6-avant-is-here-and-its-for-sale.md>)
- [Audi RS Roundup: No Drift Mode or Bespoke Models, But RS6 Avant Could Come Stateside](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/8614/audi-rs-roundup-no-drift-mode-or-bespoke-models-but-rs6-avant-could-come-stateside.md>)
- [Audi Will Make a V8 Hybrid RS6 Now Instead of Going EV Only: Report](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/audi-will-make-a-v8-hybrid-rs6-now-instead-of-going-ev-only-report.md>)
- [Audi Dealer Marks Up RS6 Avant $100,000 Over Sticker Price \[Update\]](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/39805/audi-dealer-marks-up-rs6-avant-100000-over-sticker-price.md>)
- [Shaggy Dog Audi RS6 Avant May Be the Best Dumb and Dumber Tribute Car Ever](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/11617/shaggy-dog-audi-rs6-avant-may-be-the-best-dumb-and-dumber-tribute-car-ever.md>)