Rumors – Page 2 – Pulpaddict

Report: Faster Audi RS6 Avant Versions On the Way

American Audi fans got lucky with the RS6 Avant. And it sounds like Ingolstadt has even more goodness in store.

When it was announced that the Audi RS6 Avant was actually coming to America, Four Rings fans rejoiced. Now sure, there’s no lack of high-horsepower hardware available on our shores. But when it comes to fast wagons? Domestic enthusiasts have too often gotten the shaft. So this was far from a sure thing. Fortunately, Ingolstadt delivered — and a new report from our friends at Australia’s Wheels says even hotter versions are on the way.

Better still, the info isn’t credited to an unnamed source, like so much other reportage on automotive news. Rather, vague as it may be, this tidbit comes straight from A6 and R8 spokesperson Eva Stania. Because when Wheels asked about the possibility of a weapons-grade RS6 Avant, Stania replied: “You drove the RS6 C7 as a Performance. We recently launched the R8 RWD as a Performance, so you can be pretty sure that we will follow up the Performance strategy.”

Of course, any specifics about timing and specs are still murky. But other — yup, unnamed — sources seemed to indicate there will be more than one hot rod variant of the lust-worthy longroof for well-heeled enthusiasts to choose from. We could see the first version by the end of the year, and the range-topping model will arrive closer to 2025, toward the end of this generation’s production run. All of which tracks, given Audi’s history with models like the R8 Performance.

As for how much power each model will make? I think it’s reasonable to expect that both models will make more than Mercedes’ 603-horsepower E63 AMG wagon, and less that the 690-horsepower Panamera Sport Turismo from corporate cousin Porsche. So if I was forced to make a guess? I’d say 620 for Performance model A, and 675 from Performance model B. Sound reasonable? Hit me up and let me know!

Photos: Audi

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We Probably Don’t Need an Audi Truck

Audi Truck

This week, CEO Markus Duesmann dropped hints about an Audi truck. Let’s hope he’s just messing with us.

At the moment, there’s loads on interesting stuff on the radar at Audi. From the Audi A6 Avant e-tron concept, to Ken Block’s reimagined quattro S1, the push toward electrification is producing some stunning machines, and a plan for self-driving vehicles is also beginning to take shape. But Audi CEO Markus Duesmann threw us a real curve ball this week, because as Autocar reports, when he was asked about the potential for an Audi pickup truck, he said: “I can’t promise that we will do one, but we are looking into it.” Duesmann followed up that bombshell with “Actually, we will present — not too far from now — maybe something.” Yikes.

Now, I want to phrase this carefully, so I’m just going to say this is a stupid idea and I hate it. Any Audi truck would likely be based on the Volkswagen Amarok, which is in turn based on the Ford Ranger. So it’s not like we’d be looking at some startlingly original piece of kit that would shake up the market. We’d be looking at another badge-engineered vehicle designed to move units and not goalposts or spirits. And honestly? I don’t even see who’d buy this thing. Here in the States, it’d be good for diluting Audi’s brand image, and not much else.

That said, I’m willing to admit that the market overseas could prove different. Maybe Audi could really stoke the appeal of the pickup in Europe. But is that really a good thing? Does the world really need to follow America’s lead here, and get everyone hooked on driving vehicles that are bigger than they need and mostly unpractical unless you need to move a couch? Also, what does the potential for a pickup do for Audi’s electric ambitions? Does the brass want to slap a big fat asterixis on its roadmap so something wearing the Four Rings can haul gravel? Probably not.

Maybe it’s the fact that I’ve never been a truck fan. But now that my obviously biased hot take is wrapping up, I will say I like the idea of a wicked Audi off-roader. I just think it should be based on the RS Q e-tron. That’s an innovative, forward-looking, and wicked performer that made history at the Dakar Rally, and would provide loads of fun for legions of off-road fans. It would also be in line with the company’s efforts toward sustainability, and could upend the very idea of what a modern off-road vehicle looks like. But what do you think? Is an Audi truck a good idea? Is a street-legal RS Q e-tron? Hit me up and let me know!

Photos: Volkswagen

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Could Audi be Done With Internal Combustion in 2026?

Audi A6 e-tron concept

A new report says 2026 could mean the end of internal combustion vehicles for Audi.

Five years. When you’re a child, or a teenager, it’s an eternity. But when it comes to vehicle development? It’s the blink of an eye — which is why a new report from Reuters is so shocking. Late last week, it cited German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung and reported that 2026 could spell the end of new internal combustion Audi vehicles. Since it’s very brief, here’s the entire statement:

Volkswagen’s Audi unit will stop introducing cars based on petrol and diesel engines from 2026, Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported on Thursday, citing comments made by Audi CEO Markus Duesmann to labour representatives and top managers. The report said there would also no longer be any hybrid models from that date onwards. Spokespeople for Audi were not immediately available for comment.

Now, I’m ready to acknowledge that in court, the way this information came to light would constitute hearsay. But I also know that Reuters isn’t exactly In Touch Weekly, and doesn’t generally trade on wild rumors or speculation. So if this statement, brief as it might be, got past their editors, it’s because they believe it’s the truth —or as close to the truth as they can currently get. That said, there’s a lot to unpack here. So let’s start with the word “introduce.”

Taken alone, that could simply mean Audi will continue to produce internal combustion vehicles past 2026, but won’t update anything. So in effect, there won’t be new models introduced. That still leaves plenty of wiggle room to continue cranking out models like the RS 6 Avant, so the uber-wagen can pay for its tooling before its put out to pasture. But given the company has already announced that it has stopped internal combustion development, what are the chances Ingolstadt will want to release cars based on technology that’s already half a decade old? That feel like a stretch.

Also, the fact that there won’t be any more hybrid models after 2026 seems to indicate gas and diesel mills will be gone for good. Given Audi’s place in the Volkswagen Group, it would make sense to let Porsche keep cranking out gas-powered 911s until they’re banned, and position the Four Rings as a green, mean, Tesla competitor. Because as of right now, it sure seems like where the company’s gun sights are trained. We’ll have to wait and see what Audi says about this report, but right now, it’s clearer than ever before that our electric future is coming — and fast. Do you think 2026 will spell the end of internal combustion Audis? Let me know!

Photos: Audi

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