Review: Audi C5 RS6 (2003-04)

Overview

Released in October 2003, the Audi C5 RS6 and RS6 Avant were high-performance sedans and wagons, respectively. Manufactured in Neckarsulm, Germany, the Audi RS6 was powered by a 4.2-litre biturbo V8 petrol engine that was mated to a five-speed automatic transmission and drove all four wheels via Audi’s quattro system.

BCY 4.2 biturbo V8 engine

The C5 RS6 was powered by Audi’s BCY engine which was based on the AQJ and ANK engines in the Audi C5 S6 . The BCY engine had a cast aluminium alloy block, die-forged steel crankshaft, aluminium-silicon alloy cylinder head, double overhead camshafts driven by a toothed belt and simplex chain, five valves per cylinder actuated by roller-bearing rocker arms, variable intake valve timing and a compression ratio of 9.8:1.

Significantly, the BCY engine had parallel Borg Warner K04 turbochargers which provided peak boost pressure of 0.8 bar (11.6 psi) and two side-mounted intercoolers which condensed the intake air.

ZF 5HP24 transmission

The five-speed ZF 5HP24A automatic transmission had steering wheel gearshift paddles for sequential shifting (Audi’s ‘Tiptronic’) and a dynamic Sport program which delayed upshifts and was quicker to downshift.

Dimensions

Compared to the Audi C5 S6 on which it was based, the C5 RS6 sedan was 25 mm longer (at 4858 mm), the same width (1850 mm), 22 mm lower (1426 mm) and had the same length wheelbase (2758 mm); with the exception of its 4 mm higher roofline, the RS6 Avant had the same dimensions.

Suspension and steering

The Audi RS6 had four-link front suspension with unequal length wishbones and double wishbone rear suspension. The RS6 was also fitted with Audi’s ‘Dynamic Ride Control’ (DRC) integral roll and pitch-compensating damping system. A mechanical (rather than electronic) system, oil would flow between diagonally opposed shock absorbers when cornering – via a central valve – to generate additional damping force and counteract vehicle body movements.

quattro

The RS6 and RS6 Avant were fitted with Audi’s permanent ‘quattro’ four-wheel drive system which utilised a Torsen T-2 dynamic ‘automatic torque biasing’ (ATB) centre differential. In normal conditions, the system provided a fixed 50:50 front:rear torque split. The system included electronic differential locks for the front and rear axles which could operate at speeds of up to 80 km/h to transfer torque between the front and rear axles. Furthermore, each wheel could be individually braked if it lost traction to transfer torque to the opposing wheel (i.e. cross-axle torque transfer).

Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment for the Audi C5 RS6 and RS6 Avant included dual front airbags, front and rear side airbags, full-length curtain airbags (i.e. for front and rear occupants), ABS, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, electronic stability control, traction control and front seatbelt pretensioners.

Brakes

The Audi C5 RS6 had ventilated, composite-design disc brakes front and rear, with 365 mm front discs with eight-piston fixed calipers and 335 mm rear discs with single-piston floating-calipers.

Features

Standard features for the Audi RS6 and RS6 Avant included 19-inch five-spoke alloy wheels with 255/35 R19 tyres, a nine speaker Bose stereo with CD changer, dual-zone climate control air conditioning, a satellite navigation system with dynamic route guidance and a TV tuner, power adjustable Recaro front seats, heated front and rear seats, cruise control, xenon headlights with washers, front and rear fog lights, front and rear parking sensors, split and folding rear seats, a leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel, remote central locking, power windows and heated mirrors, a power adjustable steering column (tilt and telescopic adjustment), a power sunroof, an electrochromatic rear view mirror, tyre pressure monitoring, an alarm and immobiliser.

Related links

• Wikipedia.org: Audi C5 RS6