Sport Wagons Grace the L.A. Auto Show
Audi RS6 Avant & tuned Volvo V90 remind us why wagons are still cool in a crossover world.
We will never turn our backs on wagons. There’s just something especially exciting about a station wagon that glues you into your seat when you put your foot down. Lucky for us, Audi and Volvo are not turning their backs either. While both have their foot in the crossover world, they are still producing some seriously cool wagons. And, lucky for us, the L.A. Auto Show has given us some wagons to drool over.
The RS6 Avant offers an abundance of room with all the creature comforts you’d expect from Audi. What more could you possibly want? What’s that? A 591 horsepower twin-turbocharged V8? Well, we’ve got some excellent news for you. That’s right; this gorgeous beast will blast you from zero to sixty in under four seconds, ensuring the kids will never be late for soccer practice.
This marks a monumental moment in Audi history in the US, too. This is the first time we are getting an RS series avant. For those who aren’t in the know, “Avant” is Audi-speak for wagon. There is one catch, though. It isn’t cheap. While no official number has been released yet, don’t be surprised if it’s over six figures. Take into consideration the RS7, which features the same engine. Its starting price is nearly $120,000.
Sweden isn’t absent in this race
Equally as enticing is Galpin Auto Sport’s modified Volvo V90. The V90 T6 R-Design sports a comfortable 316 horsepower, but this particular one is made even more majestic with one simple word. Polestar. Polestar is a Volvo-owned company that produces performance tunes for Volvo vehicles. While we don’t have an exact number for you, it’s safe to assume it’s a fair bit higher than stock.
Additionally, this one features some trick upgrades from Galpin. The factory wheels are powder-coated black, and all the chrome is blacked out as well. It sits a bit lower than stock on Heico lowering springs and even has some sporty painted brake calipers. To top it all off, the T6 brings both a turbocharger and a supercharger to the party. No decision to make here, folks, you get both!
While it isn’t entirely as mental as the RS6 in the power department, it also comes in around $60,000. We’re confident you could make up the power difference with the $40,000 or more you save compared to the Audi.
Long story short, the performance wagon is still a living breed. We hope it sticks around for a very long time because we will never get over how cool it is to go fast with a certain parental authority. Practicality and performance will never meet in a better format.
Photos for 6SpeedOnline by Michael S Palmer
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