Filip Brabec, Audi of America’s senior vice president of product management, told The Drive’s Joel Feder in an interview published Nov. 11, 2026: “If there is globally an RS6 Avant, then it will come to America.”
That is good news with a big “if” in front of it. Audi has announced no next RS 6 Avant, and the write-ups calling it a lock for America read more into the quote than Brabec said.
What Brabec actually said
Brabec’s answer was the conditional line above, with no mention of an engine, a plug-in system or a date. He called the current car a success that beat Audi of America’s internal expectations, and he said the U.S. team wants continuity for the RS 6 rather than dropping in and out of the market.
The RS 5 Avant got a vaguer answer. Brabec said Audi of America is working through the process and added, “we have nothing to announce today.” Feder noted that was a long way of not saying no, and Brabec replied, “Not a no is fair.”
Audi of America’s own RS 5 release says final U.S. specs and pricing will come closer to the U.S. on-sale date. Brabec also said the RS 6 is the priority because it was already in the market. We read that as the RS 6 Avant ranking ahead of an American RS 5 Avant, which is still undecided.
What is still rumor
Audi has published no teaser, name, reveal date or powertrain for the next car. The engine and timing claims below are press reports.
The Drive and Motor1 both report that the next car is expected to use a plug-in hybrid V8. The Supercar Blog, citing unnamed sources, reported in August that a V8 is “highly unlikely” and that the car will switch to a V6 plug-in hybrid. On timing, Road & Track, citing Carsales, put the reveal at the end of 2026, while The Supercar Blog was told March 2027.
Road & Track’s report, citing Carsales, also quotes Audi Sport boss Rolf Michl saying the RS 5 and RS 6 are separate in a way that is “by far, more than a question of cylinders.” He gave no cylinder count either way.
Production of the current car is reported to be over, and we found no end date from Audi. Ars Technica wrote in March that “the Audi RS6 Avant is dead,” and AUTO BILD reported in August 2025 that the RS 6 could no longer be ordered from Audi in Germany. Audi UK’s page says only, “In the UK we’re no longer building new Audi RS 6 Avant cars.”
What it means if you want a V8 wagon
Brabec’s answer tells you the U.S. team wants the next wagon. It tells you nothing about what goes under the hood, and the V8 defines the current car. If The Supercar Blog’s V6 report is right, the next RS 6 Avant gives that up. If the V8 plug-in reports are right, it adds a battery and a charge port.
If you want a V8 RS 6 Avant, the current one is the version with published prices today, and Ars Technica said unsold wagons at dealerships “will be the last of their kind.” Audi of America listed the 2026 RS 6 Avant performance at $130,700 plus $1,395 destination, with a 4.0-liter TFSI V8 making 621 hp and 627 lb-ft. In Canada, audi.ca still lists it from CA$142,065 MSRP, with CA$3,060 for freight and PDI, and Audi Canada has said nothing we could find about the next RS 6.
Waiting makes sense for buyers who are open to a plug-in. Owners of a V8 RS 6 Avant have no reason to sell over one conditional quote from Audi of America. Our RS 6 Avant vs M5 Touring vs E 53 Wagon comparison shows how the 2026 car stacked up, and our 2027 RS 5 first drive shows the new RS line.
Recent U.S. RS 6 Avant prices from Audi
| Model year and model | Base MSRP | Destination |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 RS 6 Avant performance | $130,700 | $1,395 |
| 2025 RS 6 Avant performance | $126,600 | $1,295 |
| 2025 RS 6 Avant GT (85 U.S. units) | $198,900 | $1,295 |
Prices in U.S. dollars from Audi of America, which lists one destination charge per year. Base MSRP excludes destination, taxes, title, other options and dealer charges, and the dealer sets the actual price.
If you are pricing a used RS 6 Avant while the next one is still a rumor, check each candidate against our Audi PPI checklist before you buy.
Sources
- The Drive: The Next Audi RS6 Avant Is Coming to America. It Might Not Be Alone (Joel Feder, Nov. 11, 2026)
- The Drive: Audi Fans Want RS Wagons, V8s, and Real Buttons. The Man Who Decides Isn’t Saying No (Drivecast transcript)
- Motor1: Next RS6 Avant for America
- Audi of America: 2026 lineup release
- Audi of America: 2025 lineup release
- Audi of America: 2025 RS 6 Avant GT release
- Audi of America: new Audi RS 5 release
- Audi UK: RS 6 Avant page
- Ars Technica: So long, farewell: Saying goodbye to Audi’s best car, the 2026 RS6 Avant
- AUTO BILD: RS 6 orders and the new A6 (Aug. 15, 2025)
- Road & Track: Audi Sport boss Rolf Michl on the next RS6 (Apr. 21, 2026)
- The Supercar Blog: Next-gen RS6 report (Aug. 4, 2026)
- Audi Canada: 2026 RS 6 Avant performance