Audi unveiled today the US version of the 2020 S6 model, a rather welcome addition to the line-up and a better choice than the diesel alternative European customers can get. As such, this is now the rival from the Ingolstadt-based manufacturer for the BMW M550i xDrive and things are getting interesting. Looking mildly sedated, the new S6 is bound to arrive in the US probably late in the year, as a 2020 model.
Under the hood of the North American S6 hides a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 with 444 HP and 443 lb-ft of torque. Those figures are dead on exactly the same as on the RS5 because it’s the same Porsche-sourced mill we’re dealing with here. By comparison, the M550i xDrive comes with a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 with 523 HP and 553 lb-ft of torque. Thus, considering the power difference, the performance gap between the two is pretty big too, the S6 hitting 60 mph in 4.4 seconds while the BMW does the same in 3.6 seconds.
However, the S6 is a mild-hybrid now that it dropped the V8 engine. Under the hood there an Electrically-Powered Compressor (or EPC for short) that responds to input in 250 milliseconds and has a maximum speed of 70,000 RPM. With such figures, turbo lag should become a distant memory but we’ll have to drive it to see how it feels. The power is then sent to the four corners of the car via the quattro all-wheel drive system and an 8-speed ZF gearbox.
The 2020 Audi S6 also can be fitted with a limited slip differential for the rear axle for more fun. It will also be available with all-wheel steering for more agility and the quattro system can apparently send up to 85% of the power to the rear axle alone. Thus, depending on how you configure it, the handling can differ quite a lot. Pricing starts at $73,900 MSRP without destination tax.
So Daimler & VAG are both meeting BMW turbo V8 head on with V6? Huh?
wait for the RS6.^^
Isn’t the RS6 better paired with the M5?
That’s the point u shouldn’t compare these cars as well as M5/RS6.
no one was comparing the S6 to the M5, they were comparing it to the M550. Same pricerange as the S6, and they are after the same market position. The Audi is just underpowered now in comparison because the M550 just jumped from 456hp to 523hp.
By the way, moderators, where is my reply from yesterday with a photo of the M550 to compare to the S6?
This car is not challenging the M550i but rather the M540i with the 3.0 i6 motor. This is obvious.
& still failing.
Actually it is not. Traditionally, the S6 would compete against the 550i. Since the 550i is now the M550i, that is the car the S6 has to best. The 540i would be rivaled by the A6 55 TFSI with its 335 HP V6.
Ma tete est malade.
It seems I may have misspoke, my apologies. I just saw 2.9l V6 and thought of the 540i. Never even saw the 444bhp part 😋
Say what you will about the M550’s performance vs the S6 but the S6 sure looks prettier.
So sorry about the loss of your seeing eye dog. Also your contact lenses. And taste.
It’s an opinion. His personal opinion. Humans tend to have them from time to time. Annoying I know. Are you perhaps the thought police?
THANK YOU! Thought is irrelevant, design is subjective. I’ve seen & heard a few M550i, gorgeous. Not a fan of VAG & don’t come to BMWblog because of them. I used to love Audi but their corporate masters have had them chasing BMW for decades, I would prefer to see what original work their designers & engineers could do. If allowed.
Relax man it is just an opinion, it’s ok to like both. You must be so pleasant and liked in person.
An anonymous reader/typist on bmwblog, only German brand I’ve followed since 1970. Internut is not reality & u don’t know me. BMW have earned my respect. VAG not so much. Or @ all.
LOL can’t take you seriously. You can’t even spell properly. You’re not even worthy of a BMW. Go away old timer.
Mangez moi punque.
“old timer”?! BMW actually over a century old. VAG can’t even compete with Bavarian turbo V8. “Opinion”=irrelevant & unjustified, as far as pleasant & liked my friends are older than u r. I come here to learn about a global German engineering firm,n to do with u, DB or John. Sorry it took so long to respond, I was having a life. Audi were actually defunct until VW bought them from Mercedes to (unsuccessfully) compete vs. BMW.
I was just saying to my pal how well those wheels and colour combination suit that car.
I’d still take a BMW though 😎
It does look flashy, I must say, but I like to blend in and not stand out, so, I pick the 5 series.
With that grill? Really? FWD architecture kills me with the audis. The M550iX even has too much weight on the front axle.
“a rather welcome addition to the line-up and a better choice than the diesel …”
– Obviously some in PetrolHead-land haven’t heard nor contemplated this option: https://www.tunemyeuro.com/vw-and-audi-diesel/
– helps to live in a red State or a red County. the performance is off the charts for diesels. Wifey has her X5 tdi modded; I have same done to me Audi A6 tdi
What does Wifey’s boyfriend drive?
Is the M550i the only M-Sport BMW that doesn’t have a LSD even as an optional item? The 3 series has it, the X5 and X7 have it. Even the S6 has one.
The M850iX have the E-LSD so I bet the M550iX does also, or is at least available.
2020 M550i’s come standard with LSD (source I work at BMW)
Thank you for confirming.