We review the Audi RS6 Avant from price to economy and all its features

THERE is something delicious about driving an enormous family wagon that can out-perform a supercar.

I am talking about cars like the Mercedes AMG E63 S Estate or this absolute monster, the Audi RS6 Avant.

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I think it is the relaxed attitude the driver seems to possess. “Sure, I can smoke a Porsche but I don’t need the world to know – and when I’m not lapping the Nurburgring, I’m dropping the nippers off at Brownies.”

When I’m not lapping the Nurburgring, I’m dropping the nippers off at Brownies

In a bid to one-up main rival Mercedes, Audi now offers the ferocious RS6 Avant with a special “Performance” upgrade, which sees power shift from ludicrous to utterly insane.

First seen on the equally rapid RS7, this racy enhancement adds an exclusive steering wheel, grippy Alcantara touches to the interior and, most importantly, a reworked 4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine that develops 597bhp as well as a hooligan sports exhaust.

It looks the part too. Forget any preconceptions about “boring” estate cars because the RS6 Avant has chugged a pint of steroids and spent every day for the past year in the gym.

The wheel arches are beyond bulging – it is difficult not to graze a knee on them as you walk past – and the wheels are 21in of lightweight alloy loveliness.

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The grille looks like it wants to eat any car that gets in its way and the twin tail pipes are big enough to comfortably house a small family.

The grille looks like it wants to eat any car that gets in its way

As you would imagine, the RS6 Avant has the performance to back up its ludicrously sculpted body.

This thing can complete the dash from 0-62mph in just 3.7 seconds from a standstill.

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Top speed? Well, that is limited to 155mph . . . but Audi will release the shackles for a small fee, taking it to a face-melting 189mph. That is not just sports car-baiting performance, it is up there with some of today’s fastest supercars.

And it can still swallow 1680 litres of stuff with the rear seats folded flat.

Better still, any Audi RS6 Avant can be specified with its Dynamic Ride Control, which transforms the suspension from race-circuit firm to continent-crossing comfortable at just the stab of a small button.

But quality does come at a price. Audi will charge you £85,085 for a basic model and it will easily tickle the £100,000 mark if you start ticking boxes on the options list. Well, dads can dream too.