THE latest model in Audi's flagship RS line-up is an estate car that measures almost five metres in length and weighs just shy of two tonnes, but don't be fooled into thinking its any old people-mover because it isn't.

The RS 6 Avant Performance is powered by a 4.0-litre 605ps TFSI engine and that translates into supercar performance capabilities with a 0-62mph sprint that takes a mere 3.7 seconds and top speed of up to 189mph.

And that's without the aid of any of the gizmos found in some rival cars such as launch control.

The acceleration is blisteringly fast and the option of four driving modes allows you to tame the beast in Comfort, Auto and Individual or unleash its full potential in Dynamic mode.

Ultimately it means the car can perfectly display both sides of its character - it can be calm and beautifully controlled when driven with a responsible head or outrageously exhilarating when the mood suits.

The eight-speed tiptronic gearbox is beautifully responsive and you can take extra control via the paddle shifts or by tapping the gear lever. And the quattro all-wheel drive helps to keep the car perfectly balanced no matter how hard it's pushed.

First impressions are vital and the RS 6 Avant Performance certainly looks the business with its contoured bumpers, large air intakes, honeycomb grille and flared side sills. Red brake callipers costing an additional £430 and 21-inch alloys certainly complete the dynamic styling.

Inside there are super sports seats with pronounced side bolsters and integrated head rests. These alcantara/leather combination seats looked absolutely stunning thanks to a new honeycomb pattern.

In addition, there are sports pedals, a flat-bottomed sports steering wheel, a BOSE surround sound system, head-up display (£1,240 extra), ambient lighting, an excellent multi-media system with full connectivity and sat nav capabilities, plus a whole host of other techno treats to be explored.

In congested traffic the car is an instant attention-grabber as it coasts along. Flick it into dynamic mode and the crackles and pops can probably be heard in the neighbouring county.

On faster-moving motorways the car is effortlessly quick and glides past slower traffic with ease. But in reality, if you want to see just how much fun this car really is you need some twisting country lanes with plenty of sharp bends and very little traffic.

It's then that the RS 6 Avant Performance can be pushed a little harder. The steering is beautifully precise and the road-holding cannot fail to impress as it sticks to the Tarmac like glue.

You can expect to hear some engine and road-surface noise when driving in Dynamic but the car can be hushed to a state of near-silence by selecting a calmer mode.

Of course a car with such outstanding driving dynamics and premium on-board technology comes with quite a hefty price-tag.

This car was priced at £84,674 which was increased to £94,915 with options fitted and the economy will mean regular trips to the filling station too as the vehicle can only deliver combined fuel efficiency of 29.4mpg if driven with a gentle right boot. Carbon emissions are 223g/km.

But forget the pricing and economy for a second and take into consideration the hours of fun this car can offer and with a boot capacity of 565 litres rising to 1,680 litres with the rear seats down, it's actually a very practical five-door, five-seat option too that will earn you plenty of ‘street-cred' respect on the school run.