The hugely powerful Audi RS6 Avant engine has now been slotted into the saloon model, giving the executive car scorching levels of performance.

The twin turbocharged 5-litre V10 petrol gives the Audi RS6 572bhp and 479lb/ft of pulling power, enabling 0-62mpg in just 4.5 seconds.

This makes it more powerful than a Ferrari F430 supercar, which has 483bhp and 343lb/ft of pulling power.

View more pictures of the Audi RS6 saloon and facelifted A6 models

But, the Audi RS6 is electronically limited to a top speed of 155mph – or as an extra cost option – you can have Audi fit a de-restriction package which sees the top speed rise to 175mph.

You can see it first at the Paris Motor Show in October, and it will be on sale soon after in the UK, with prices starting from around £70k.

Check out this video of the Audi RS6 Avant which has already gone on sale:

Audi A6 facelift

Audi has also announced revisions to its A6 range, which are available to order now, with first deliveries expected in October.

All models get styling tweaks including new bumper designs, new front grille, new front fog lights and new LED running lights on S-Line and RS models.

A new Audi A6 ‘e’ model brings fuel economy to the fore. Its 2-litre TDI diesel engine is mated to a revised long-ratio gearbox and the body gets lowered suspension and aerodynamic tweaks to give it an average fuel economy of 53.3mpg and carbon dioxide emissions of just 139g/km.

This places the Audi A6 in tax band C with an annual charge of £120 – the same as a host of superminis. And it still accelerates from 0-62mph in 10.3 seconds and has a top speed of 129mph.

Audi is also introducing a new performance engine, the 3-litre TFSI with 288bhp and 309lb/ft of pulling power – accelerating the A6 from 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds.

Its power is produced with the help of a supercharger and direct fuel injection, and it’s efficient, with an average fuel consumption of 29mpg.

Audi’s quattro four-wheel-drive system has been updated and all models now have 40 per cent of power sent to the front wheels and 60 per cent to the rear.

Tweaks to the suspension, including larger diameter shock absorbers, are claimed to bring greater refinement and stability.

A new version of Audi’s Multi Media Interface (MMI) has updated navigation and Audi claims it has made it more intuitive to use. It’s now available with a 40GB hard drive able to store MP3s.

And, a new piece of technology for the A6 can warn the driver when a vehicle is in the car’s blind spot.

The economical Audi A6 ‘e’ will be the entry-level car, with a starting price of £24,800.

View our slide show of the Audi RS6 Avant