When it comes to Audi’s iconic RS models, few companies can claim to have as much in-depth knowledge and expertise as Automotive Addiction. Having sold over 700 highly specified RS3s over the years, as well as being moderators on the Audi RS OC Facebook group and the owners of the Audi RS3 8Y and Audi RS6 GT Owners Club Facebook groups, there’s very little we don’t know about the Ingolstadt brand’s storming hot hatches. But it’s not just the hatchbacks that we specialise in, as our passion also extends to the firm’s supercars and super saloons too, being the proud owners of both an R8 V10 Performance Parts Edition (one of only 44 worldwide and just 5 in the UK in right hand drive) and two – yes two! – RS6 GTs (one of only 660 worldwide and just 60 in the UK) where one of these uber limited wonder wagons is available for purchase while the other is remaining at Automotive Addiction HQ to be used as an ongoing project!
These ultra exclusive, limited edition models are not the kind of car you can simply buy anywhere, as their extreme rarity means only a handful of the UK’s most respected dealers and enthusiasts get offered the chance to buy one.
Launched in February 2024, with cars having only just been released to those exclusive outlets and individuals in early 2025, the RS6 GT is the latest, and possibly greatest, Audi model to enter the Automotive Addiction preparation booths.
Priced at an eye-watering £178,000 it is the most expensive Audi model ever released. Built as a homage to Audi’s American IMSA Sportscar Championship race car of the 1990s, it’s wild red, white and black colour scheme and brawnier bumpers may look just like a cosmetic makeover, but the gamut of the GT’s bespoke parts and abilities are much more than just skin deep.
To see exactly how the range topping GT compares against the next best thing, we put it up against its slightly less exotic stablemate, the RS6 Carbon Vorsprung. But being Automotive Addiction, even this isn’t just a basic Carbon Vorsprung, as it has every single factory upgrade possible, making this one of the most loaded RS6’s on the road.
Coming in at £120,000, the Carbon Vorsprung isn’t exactly pocket change, but at a cool £60k less than the GT, it does make you question whether the extra exclusivity and performance are worth the additional outlay. We put the two side by side to highlight the differences so you can decide for yourself… click here to watch the video on our Youtube channel…
We’ll start with the most obvious difference: the paint. While the Carbon Vorspung keeps it cool and classy with its uniform covering of gorgeous Grenadine Red metallic paint, the GT keeps it loud and lairy with a tri-colour design that apes the iconic racing livery of the celebrated ‘90s track machine. While it may not be to everyone’s taste, the eye catching styling includes bonnet stripes that look black from a distance, but close up you can see they are in fact clear, and the black you are seeing is actually the weave of the carbon-fibre underneath!
This use of the lightweight exotic composite extends beyond the GT’s bonnet to include the front wings too, which had additional air vents behind the wheels to allow pressure to escape from the arches, improving aerodynamics and brake cooling. The Carbon Vorsprung has to make do with aluminium versions for both bonnet and wings, and without the extra venting too.
There’s a considerable difference in the cars’ front bumpers too. The GT has its own bespoke item that is both deeper and wider with a larger Honeycomb grille and a red striped splitter skimming the tarmac. With the inner parts of the bumper also painted gloss black, it gives the impression of a seriously wide open-mouth intake, which is extremely aggressive. The one area where the Carbon Vorsprung trumps the GT at the front end is with the discreet fitment of its excellent night vision camera, which is located inside the right hand ring of the Audi badge. The GT does not come with this as an option.
Moving back from the front bumper and under those vented arches, the GT has a set of unique six-spoke wheels that are a retro design that harks back to models from the ‘80s and ‘90s. But while the spokes may be chunky, their forged aluminium construction means they remain super lightweight. The Carbon Vorsprung uses the more common split five-spoke rims, while both cars run Audi’s incredible carbon ceramic brakes behind them. These super stoppers come as standard on the GT and are a £10,000 option on the standard RS6.
Up top, to keep the car’s centre of gravity as low as possible, the GT has a lightweight aluminium roof with no roof rails or sunroof. This is in contrast to the Carbon Vorsprung which has both roof rails and a full panoramic roof, which while adding considerable weight to the highest part of the car, does provide a gloriously airy feel to the cabin and allows an unobstructed view of the sky and the burble from the meaty exhaust system. The glass roof is an option on RS6 GTs in Australia, (along with a host of other tasty upgrades that they get Down Under) but not in the UK.
Both cars have the same carbon-fibre clad mirrors, while the doors, rear quarters and side skirts are also identical – it’s at the rear of the car where the differences once again become more obvious.
Immediately noticeable is the large dual-element rear roof spoiler inspired by 2020’s RS6 GTO concept. Accompanied by a gurney flap to the rear bumper and a completely redesigned diffuser offering greater functionality, these aerodynamic upgrades increase downforce, helping to keep the rear of the car planted at speed. The final touch being the bespoke GT badging, to complete the more menacing look to the rear end.
That about wraps up the exterior differences, so before we get into the performance upgrades, let’s take a peek into each car’s interior.
For starters, the Carbon Vorsprung has an opulent leather clad interior, with red stitching and carbon fibre inlays to the dash and door cards. This contrasts with the GT’s more motorsport-inspired design which features swathes of tactile alcantara. (Again, the Aussies get the option to add carbon inlays to their GTs, but this is not an option in the UK) This suede-like material covers everything from the dashboard to the door cards, pillars and headlining, with the bespoke carbon-backed bucket seats also getting in on the action, topped off with red and bronze stitching.
The front seats themselves differ too, not just in their choice of trim, but in their design and functionality, the GT coming with deeper bolsters and manual adjustment to minimise weight, while the Carbon Vorsprung has fully electric, full leather sports seats with both cooling and heating functions. The rear bench seats are the same, except for the different trim materials and stitching colours which match their respective fronts.
Both cars have the same centre consoles and multi-function steering wheels, with only the addition of a unique numbered build plate between the arm rest and centre console and bronze stitching to accompany the red thread on the GT.
The floor mats are bespoke to the GT with RS6 GT badging stitched in red, while the puddle lights and stainless steel sills also display RS6 GT logos.
The GT’s motorsport theme continues with the dash clocks, which are stark white on the GT while the car’s multifunction LCD display can be set to show a graphic of the car in its full livery. Tech wise, both cars are very similar with only the omission of soft-close doors on UK examples of the GT, again most likely to reduce any unnecessary weight.
The final visual difference between the models is the additional of red seat belts in the GT compared to more subtle black with red pin stripe items in the Carbon Vorsprung.
Considering both models use the same 4.0-litre twin turbocharged V8 delivering 621bhp – albeit with meatier OPF-back exhaust and a slight remap to the ECU in the GT to sharpen throttle response and increase midrange punch – it’s remarkable how differently they drive. The GT is a much more focused, more raw machine that shrinks around you when on the move and feels like a much smaller car due to its nimble handling and razor sharp responses. Much of this is down to the car’s reduced mass, a byproduct of the use of lightweight parts and a lack of panoramic roof, but can also be attributed to the car’s uprated suspension and running gear.
The GT uses bespoke coilovers with three-way adjustment for height, compression and rebound that have been tuned to offer a more sporty ride and increased precision in the steering and handling. Combined with a rear differential reconfigured to send a greater percentage of the torque to the rear wheels, and the GT feels like a completely different animal to the Carbon Vorsprung, with more punch, faster, rifle bolt gearchanges and a more racey feel to the steering and ride.
So there you have it. A comprehensive run down of all of the differences between the RS6 GT and a fully loaded RS6 Carbon Vorsprung. While its clear the GT boasts a more focused drive and a more standout aesthetic, it does come at a hefty financial cost over an already epically capable Carbon Vorsprung. Whether that cost for the rarity, brutal race-inspired looks and undiluted performance are worth it, is totally subjective and up to the individual to decide. But one thing is for sure, both of these super estates are truly groundbreaking models that redefine not just the genre, but what is even possible with a five-seat estate car.
Two truly remarkable machines, but which would you choose?
Get your hands on a GT – today!
To get one of Audi’s halo model super estates from a main dealer requires an invitation to buy, making acquiring one a difficult and lengthy process. However, we’ve cut all the red tape and have got a brand new delivery mileage RS6 GT that’s available for sale today! Don’t delay, get in touch with our expert sales team today to find out more information or to place a deposit. Your dream car could be closer than you think!
We want your RS!
If it’s time to upgrade your RS6, then be sure to contact us for a price. We are currently on the lookout for exceptional enthusiast owned RS6 models to increase our sales stock. Top prices are paid for meticulously maintained examples with impeccable ownership histories, so don’t delay, get in touch today.
Also, if you happen to own one of Audi’s halo RS6 GT models, why not join our brand new Audi RS6 GT Owners Club Facebook group to keep up to date with the model and other owners worldwide.
Finally, whether you’re an RS owner or not, make sure to check out Automotive Addiction’s Youtube channel. On here you will find a host of regular videos including a series documenting the progress of our own RS6 GT as we put it through a series of bespoke upgrades including custom carbon interior inlays, paint protection film, retrofit audio upgrades, engine bay improvements and much more! https://www.youtube.com/@automotiveaddictionuk
