New Audi RS6 & RS7 PERFORMANCE models pack a 597bhp punch

The new Audi RS6 Avant Performance

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The new Audi RS6 Avant and RS7 Sportback performance models come with a whopping 597bhp and cost from £86-91.6K. First UK deliveries early 2016.

If you think the current RS6 and RS7 just don’t have enough performance edge, then Audi has just the job for you – the new RS6 and RS7 Performance models, both of which get what could best be described as ‘adequate’ performance from the newly tweaked 4.0 litre turbo engine – with a whopping 597bhp.

That 597bhp is up by 45bhp thanks to changes to the engine management and boost, giving the RS6 and RS7 Performance the same 597bhp and 553lb/ft of torque as the new Audi S8 Plus.

That extra grunt delivers 0-62mph in just 3.7 seconds through Audi’s quattro 4WD – 0.2 seconds better than the regular models – but still delivers official economy of over 29mpg. Which probably tells you all you need to know about our useless official economy testing.

Audi has also tweaked the 8-speed auto ‘box and fettled the suspension to cope with the extra power, and fitted exclusive 21″ alloys with big rubber – 285/30 R21 on the RS6 and 275/30 R21 on the RS7.

But there is a priced to pay for the extra oomph and tweaks – the RS6 Avant Performance will cost you £86,000 and the RS7 Performance an eye-watering £91,600.

The Audi RS6 and RS7 Performance models are now on sale at Audi’s UK dealers, with first cars due early 2016.