Sport/Utility: Audi RS6 Avant v Mercedes-AMG E63 S drag race

Say you have about $250,000 to spend and want to cross country in supreme comfort, with four of your mates – and fast! You can’t do much better than these two bruisers, the Mercedes-AMG E63 S and Audi RS6 Avant.

Pegged by enthusiasts as the ultimate ‘do-it-all’ vehicle, the Audi RS6 comes to the party with a 446kW/800Nm twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8, 565-litres of boot space, and a $216,000 sticker price.

Mercedes-AMG’s glorious E63 S wagon sadly remains forbidden fruit for the Australian market, but the saloon stands up as one of the most ballistic point-to-point luxury barges available. Armed with a 450kW/850Nm 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8; the large limo bundles supercar-shaming credentials with seating for five and 540-litres of boot space, complete with an eye-watering $253,900 pricetag.

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But we’re not here to talk money, we’re here to race.

With our two weapons of choice in tow, Heathcote drag strip would act as our theatre.

The two German heavyweights battled it out in a number of different scenarios, including a full-bore launch control race start, comfort mode street start, and a 50km/h roll race.

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The E63 S may boast a 120kg, 4kW and 50Nm advantage, but Audi’s quattro know-how saw the RS6 leap ahead under launch control while Mercedes-AMG’ big saloon was hampered by an intervening ESC.

Under a non-launch control comfort mode street start, the E63 S was better able squeeze on the power, surging slightly ahead from launch and extending the gap to cross the line with barely a car length to spare.

At this stage of the day, it was clear that there wasn’t much between the two cross country cruise missiles. A further two roll races split the results again.

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The first run saw the RS6 react with more immediacy from the rollout, maintaining the lead as the E63 S slowly began to creep its way back. A repeat run again sees the RS6 gain an immediate head start before the E63 S surges ahead just before the finish line, as both cars fly past at over 200km/h.

With a tied result from all proceedings, the numbers ultimately showed just how close the two German heavyweights were. Both cars matched their official acceleration claims, with the E63 S pegging 0-100km/h in 3.51 seconds, with the Audi RS6 scarcely behind measuring a best time of 3.56 seconds.

The Mercedes-AMG cleared the quarter-mile in a brisk 11.52 seconds at 198.11km/h, while the Audi RS6 followed marginally behind, clocking an 11.64 second pass at 193.44km/h.

In reality, neither of these cars could ever risk being called slow, but the numbers don’t lie and give a hard-fought victory to Mercedes-AMG. But which would you rather take home? Watch all the action above, and let us know in the comments below!