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Performance behemoth sheds two cylinders. Is that progress for the mighty Audi RS6?

The Audi A6’s interior is a bit dated now, but you wouldn’t know it. Thanks to the crispness of the LCD display in front of your nose, and the fold-out 8-inch display above your left hand, the architecture has the hi-res highlights required to keep the Audi RS6's interior box-fresh.

The standard RS6 is certainly well-equipped as you would expect of a range-topping model, with sat nav, DAB, LED headlights, Bose sound system and a leather upholstery all part of the package. But this is an Audi Sport creation, so expect a dramatically aggressive bodykit, RS decals and badging, but the RS6 gets an enhanced braking system, electronic differential, RS-tuned adaptive air suspension.

Just as the chassis barely demurs under your bodyweight, so the facia stands up to your touch

Upgrade to the RS6 Performance and you get 596bhp at your disposal, a titanium styling pack, 21in alloy wheels and a leather and Alcantara interior.

Without trying too hard (BMW’s problem) or not trying hard enough (Mercedes-AMG), the dashboard hangs together quite beautifully; the foot-wide centre console and sweeping horizontal lines - picked out with aluminium - cementing the notion that the RS6 is an impeccably cultured ground-hugger.  

Just as the chassis barely demurs under your bodyweight, so the facia stands up to your touch. Its switches and toggles click with elemental assurance. The three-spoke flat-bottomed steering wheel is a fist-filler and a trademark, while the embossed ‘super’ sports seats have mighty bolsters that lock you in position.

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The material tactility of a concrete elephant suits the atmosphere down to the ground: shutting the door seals you into a 45dB compression chamber - at 70mph it’s only 1dB louder than the 3.0-litre TDI we tested. The sanitisation lessens under load; max revs in third gear registered a tummy-rumbling 76dB.

A desirable driving position is not hard to find thanks to standard electric adjustment, and enthusiastic owners will find enough range to neatly countersink themselves behind the dials.

In the rear only uncommonly tall passengers will feel shortchanged by the typically generous legroom (although the middle seat is, again, a particularly small one) on offer, while the 1050mm-long boot floor retains plenty of space to throw the dog around in. Like the standard car, there is practically nothing that can be touched - fore or aft - that will offend even the most spoilt eyes or fingers. Save, perhaps, the carbon effect trim that appeared on our test car.

But then you can’t have it all, can you?