Audi’s RS family of fast family cars have always been popular with American consumers, albeit mostly as crossovers. However, there has always been a gaping hole in the hearts of enthusiasts who pine for the mythical RS wagons Audi offers to European customers. Well, following the reveal of the RS5 Sportback at the 2018 New York International Auto Show, Audi says it’s not ruling out the possibility of selling RS Avants in America.
“We always look at potential new opportunities in the market. It’s a niche to explore,” Filip Brabec, vice president of product management for Audi of America told MotorTrend. “We keep holding discussions. Keep writing us letters.” Nothing is imminent as the market for wagons in America, let alone hot-rod all-wheel-drive wagons, is quite thin compared to Europe. “The RS 6 and RS 4 Avants are well accepted in Europe,” quipped Michael Renz, the new head of Audi Sport worldwide to the magazine. “In the US, it might be a different situation.”
Audi hears the cries of Avant aficionados in America, and certainly won’t rule out the possibility of one day potentially importing the Avants as weird RS flagships, but the company won’t commit to anything either. Once upon a time, from 2006 to 2008, Audi offered American's the B7 RS4 in sedan form, but decided to skip North America with the next generation B8 RS4, which was only offered as an Avant. For now, Audi Sport is quite focused on selling the RS5 Sportback, which the company views as the most expressive type of sedan that speaks to a totally different breed of buyer.
“The Sportback is not a weird hatchback,” Renz said. “It adds to a sedan, as a beautiful layer on top of that. It’s for sedan buyers who want to be a bit more expressive. The Sportback offers more image than the Avant. There is a clear hierarchy. The Sportback is for young families who are looking for a sporty, fashion-oriented car with functionality that they can put the kids in. The Avant customer is a little bit older, more entrepreneurial.” Regardless, you heard the man, start writing those letters sports fans.
