Audi RS6 Allroad set to launch in 2016

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German media reports that the Audi RS6 Avant is about to get an Allroad version, adding a modicum of off-road ability to Audi’s uber estate.

Audi’s RS6 Avant is perhaps the most desirable of the handful of estate cars that perform like a supercar (think Mercedes E63 AMG Estate or Jaguar XJR Sportbrake), and even losing the wonderful Lamborghini V10 in the latest version of the RS6 has done nothing to spoil the fun.

In fact, the RS6 with the 4.0 litre turbo is actually a much better car than the V10-engined car ever was, with performance that will shame all but the most super of supercars – 0-62mph in 3.7 seconds – and the sort of dynamics you just wouldn’t expect possible in an estate car.

But it seems Audi aren’t content with offering a super estate, they’re also planning to offer it with added butch by launching the Audi RS6 Allroad in 2016, according to Germany’s Auto Bild.

Perhaps on the face of it it seems a bit daft to compromise the RS6 by adding extra weight, plastic cladding and raising the ride height, but it could be a very sensible way to go.

There’s a very strong market for high performance SUVs – like the Porsche Cayenne Turbo and Range Rover Sport SVR – which have far more compromised handling than an estate car, and an RS6 Allroad would offer performance that would shame the super SUVs, a raised ride height and a modicum of off-road ability. Well, the ability to get out of a muddy boot sale car park at least.

Whether Auto Bild are right on this or not we’ll find out soon enough. The claim is the RS6 Allroad will debut in September next year – which probably means the 2016 Paris Motor Show – so details should start to emerge in the new year.