We have fond memories of the Audi 90 quattro IMSA GTO from the early 1990s, as it ripped up apexes with its 720 horsepower inline-five engine, turbo-chirping noises, and quattro all-wheel drive. Automakers enjoy paying tribute to their motorsport heritage but Audi’s newest homage takes the cake. This is the Audi RS 6 Avant GT, a limited edition model with only 660 copies destined for the global market. How many are allocated for Canada? Seven.

The sense of nostalgia is strong and the RS 6 makes the perfect backdrop for an IMSA throwback. There’s a new pass-through roof spoiler that slightly mimics the double spoiler in the 90 IMSA GTO, an updated diffuser, carbon fibre hood and fenders, unique 22-inch wheels, and a black RS 6 GT badge out back.

Two exclusive specs can be chosen: Arkona White, Nardo Grey, and Mythos Black, each with their own combination of black, gray, and red colours for the badges, wheels, and decals. We wish Audi took it one step further with the 90 IMSA GTO’s white monoblock wheels and plastered more ‘Audi quattro’ logos on the windshields but alas, we shouldn’t complain too much about a good thing especially when ten years ago, the idea of a new Audi wagon on Canadian shores was delusional.

The interior receives a few upgrades namely an exclusive red and copper colour combination, RS bucket seats, and a liberal use of Dinamica microfiber on the cabin surfaces. The center console also features the GT’s serial number, displaying which of the 660 models you’re sitting in.

But the biggest news is the performance upgrades. Not that the RS 6 Avant was any slouch, but the GT takes it one step further with a lightweight adjustable coilover suspension that lowers the car for a more aggressive stance, and a revised quattro sport differential on the rear axle for a sharper drive. The 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine is unchanged, delivering an impressive 621 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque through its all-wheel drive system and 8-speed automatic transmission. It will now sprint from 0-100 km/h in a scant 3.3 seconds.

The RS 6 Avant GT will begin deliveries in the second quarter of 2024. Canadian pricing has yet to be announced but in Europe it’s being sold for 219,585 euro. Not cheap, but neither is exclusivity.

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