What: 1997 Audi S6 plus Avant
Color: Audi exclusive Nogaro Blue (nogaroblau; pearl effect UNI; Z5M; Audi)
VIN: unknown
Mileage: 119,400 miles
Price: Auction
Location: Towson, MD
Listing: CarsAndBids
Long before the RS 6 Avant became synonymous with supercar performance wrapped in wagon practicality, there was the Audi S6 plus. Built for just a single model year and developed by quattro GmbH, the S6 plus was more than the ultimate evolution of the C4 platform—it was the first production Audi created by the company’s newly established performance division, laying the foundation for every Audi Sport model that followed.
One of those rare cars is now available on Cars & Bids. Already imported and titled in Tennessee, this 1997 Audi S6 plus Avant eliminates the hurdles typically associated with acquiring one of Audi’s most exclusive European-market performance wagons.
Finished in Nogaro Blue over a black leather with blue Alcantara interior, the left-hand-drive Avant has covered approximately 192,100 kilometers (119,400 miles). Power comes from the S6 plus-exclusive 4.2-liter naturally aspirated V8 producing 322 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, paired with a six-speed manual transmission and permanent quattro all-wheel drive.
The S6 plus was far more than a standard S6 with additional trim. quattro GmbH reworked the 4.2-liter V8 with revised cylinder heads, camshafts, engine management, and exhaust components to unlock an additional 32 horsepower over the standard model. Chassis tuning was sharpened with a lower, stiffer suspension, larger brakes, and unique 17-inch Avus-style alloy wheels, creating what was among the fastest production wagons available anywhere in the world during the late 1990s.
Production was equally exclusive. Audi built just 855 S6 Plus Avants, making it one of the rarest performance wagons ever to wear the Four Rings. It also marked the final evolution of Audi’s legendary C4 platform before the arrival of the all-new A6 generation.
Factory equipment on this example includes the distinctive S6 Plus wheels, anodized exterior trim, a power sunroof, heated front sport seats upholstered in leather and Alcantara, wood interior trim, and automatic climate control. The seller reports two modifications: a Porsche front brake conversion and a resonator delete that allows more of the naturally aspirated V8’s character to come through.
Showing honest signs of use, the listing notes stone chips, scratches, paint flaking around the passenger-side headlight, wear to interior surfaces, some corrosion on underbody components, and tires dating from 2019 and 2020. Three keys and service records accompany the sale, with additional maintenance documentation reportedly available upon request.
Perhaps the most compelling aspect of the offering is that it is already stateside. With a Tennessee title in hand, this S6 Plus presents a rare opportunity to acquire one of Audi’s defining performance wagons without navigating the import process, though prospective buyers should still confirm registration and emissions requirements in their home state.
As one of the most historically significant performance wagons of the modern era, the S6 Plus occupies an important place in Audi’s lineage. It introduced the world to what quattro GmbH could accomplish, combined understated styling with genuine high-performance capability, and established a formula that continues to define Audi’s fastest wagons nearly three decades later.
