When people say that an Audi RS model is just wider than other Audi models, it makes Markus Eberle smile: “Compared to the Audi A6, the Audi RS 6 Avant is not just wider. And it’s not just faster either,” he emphasizes, casually stroking his hand over the body of the Audi RS 6 Avant performance in Dew Silver with matte effect paint finish. The matter is far more complex, he says.

What Eberle means: The entire vehicle design of an Audi RS model is created around the so-called wide body. This is part of the Audi Sport DNA, he explains. “The Audi RS 6 Avant performance only shares the roof, front doors and tailgate with the Audi A6 series. Our Audi designers put a strong focus on the front fenders, the rear sidecar and the wheel arches, and ultimately redesigned virtually the entire body in terms of width.”

Using the term “design” is deliberate and important, says Eberle. What distinguishes Audi RS models in general and the Audi RS 6 Avant performance in particular, he outlines, is sporty elegance in addition to performance and suitability for everyday use. “You can see this very well where the rear doors meet the wheel arches.” Nothing appears attached or mounted. “It all fits, as if it was made from one piece.”

The current Audi RS 6 Avant performance is about 80 millimetres wider than the Audi A6 Avant, which Eberle owns privately. “However, we have deliberately moved a bit away from the much talked about wolf in sheep’s clothing design with this generation of vehicles,” he admits. Becoming even more expressive in design is based not least on customer feedback. “Design is and remains an absolute differentiator, especially in the field of high-performance vehicles,” says the expert. Markus Eberle has been at Audi for a decade, and for the past six years he has been responsible for Audi RS vehicles as product manager. He has an eye on the worldwide requirements for the vehicles and knows the Audi RS 6 Avant series inside out.

The wide body also supports the thoroughly impressive performance figures and driving characteristics of the Audi RS 6 Avant performance, and in some cases makes them possible in the first place. “We can also install wheels that are one inch larger than in the A series thanks to the larger and wider wheel arches.” As a result, the wheels on the Audi RS 6 Avant performance are up to 22 inches in size. “The wheel width also increases, while the height of the tyres decreases at the same time. This provides more stiffness in the tyres, more direct contact with the road and, in terms of lateral dynamics, real advantages when it comes to handling the vehicle.” But, Markus Eberle adds, these are properties that can mainly be exploited to the full in extreme situations.

In everyday life, however, and that’s what all Audi RS models are designed for, it’s the looks that become more and more important for him. “I don’t know how often I’ve already seen the current Audi RS 6 Avant performance. But it always gives me goosebumps and brings a smile to my face.”