How to Install an Akrapovic Exhaust on Audi RS6 Avant (C8)

Installing an Akrapovic exhaust on the Audi RS6 Avant (C8) is one of the highest-impact bolt-on upgrades you can make to Audi's 591-horsepower super-wagon — and with basic hand tools and a lift, it is a job most experienced enthusiasts can complete in an afternoon. The RS6 Avant (C8) runs a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 (3,996 cc) making 591 hp and 590 lb-ft in US trim, launching this 4,960-lb wagon to 60 mph in roughly 3.2–3.5 seconds. This guide walks you through fitting the Akrapovic Evolution Line (Titanium) cat-back (part S-AU/T/2H) step by step, including the mandatory link-pipe set, torque and alignment tips, and the complementary parts our Tampa, FL shop recommends installing at the same time.

What the Akrapovic Evolution Line Adds to the RS6 Avant (C8)

The Akrapovic Evolution Line (Titanium) adds 15.7 hp at 6,150 rpm and 17.9 Nm (about 13.2 lb-ft) at 6,150 rpm while removing over 20% of the factory system's mass. On Akrapovic's in-house dyno, an RS6 Avant (C8) fitted with this system against the stock Audi Sport exhaust produced those gains under controlled conditions — real, repeatable numbers rather than marketing estimates. The full system is built around one central and two side mufflers with a titanium collector, fed by larger-diameter stainless-steel link pipes and custom flex tubes that are fully insulated where they meet the OEM downpipes.

The weight story is the headline for a heavy wagon: the titanium system weighs roughly 18.7 kg versus about 33 kg for the factory exhaust, a saving of over 14 kg (about 31 lbs) of unsprung and rear-biased mass. Akrapovic's sound-control valve wiring plugs into the factory harness, so you keep the RS6's OEM valve behavior — quiet in Comfort, hard-edged V8 bark in Dynamic. The system is ECE compliant and developed for cars without a gasoline particulate filter (GPF), which covers the majority of US-market RS6 Avants.

Parts and Tools You Need Before You Start

You need two Akrapovic parts to complete this install: the Evolution Line (Titanium) cat-back and the mandatory Link-Pipe Set (SS). The cat-back ships without link pipes, so ordering only the muffler system will leave you unable to connect it to the OEM downpipes. Order both together to avoid a stalled install.

Tools and shop supplies

• Two-post lift or four jack stands rated for the RS6's ~4,960 lb curb weight
• Metric socket set (10–15 mm) with extensions and a swivel joint
• Torque wrench for the clamp and hanger fasteners
• Penetrating oil for the OEM downpipe flange hardware
• Trim tools for the rear diffuser and exhaust valance
• Anti-seize, new exhaust gaskets/clamps as supplied, and a helper for the final tailpipe alignment

Step-by-Step: Installing the Akrapovic Cat-Back

The Akrapovic Evolution Line is a true bolt-on that reuses every factory hanger and mounting point — no cutting or welding. Work on a fully cooled exhaust and budget 3–4 hours the first time. Follow these steps in order.

1. Raise and secure the car. Lift the RS6 evenly and let the exhaust cool completely. Titanium and the OEM downpipe flanges are far easier to separate cold, and you will be reaching over the rear subframe.
2. Remove the rear diffuser and valance. Pull the rear diffuser trim so the OEM tips slide out cleanly. This also gives you access to the rearmost hangers and the tailpipe alignment slots you will use at the end.
3. Disconnect the valve actuators. Unplug the factory exhaust-valve connectors and set the harness aside — you will transfer these to the Akrapovic mufflers so OEM sound-control still works.
4. Support and drop the stock cat-back. Place a jack or a helper under the OEM mufflers, unbolt the downpipe-to-cat-back flange hardware, then free each rubber hanger with a spray of penetrating oil and a hanger tool. Lower the factory system out as one piece.
5. Fit the Akrapovic link pipes first. Bolt the larger-diameter stainless link pipes to the OEM downpipes using the supplied gaskets and clamps. Leave the clamps hand-tight so you can index the rest of the system.
6. Hang the titanium mufflers and collector. Lift the Evolution Line system onto the factory hangers, sliding the front slip joints over the link pipes. Because the system is roughly 31 lbs lighter than stock, one person can position it, but a second set of hands speeds alignment.
7. Reconnect the valve wiring. Plug the OEM valve connectors into the Akrapovic actuators and route the harness clear of the hot titanium.
8. Align the carbon-titanium tailpipes. With the diffuser test-fitted, center each carbon-titanium tip in its cutout for even spacing, then work forward tightening every clamp and hanger to Akrapovic's specified torque. Correct tip alignment is the single most visible part of the job — take your time here.
9. Start, inspect, and road test. Start the engine and check every joint for leaks, confirm the valves open and close between Comfort and Dynamic, reinstall the diffuser, and take a short drive to re-check clearances and tip position once everything has heated and settled.

Recommended Upgrades to Install at the Same Time

Because the car is already on the lift, three upgrades pair naturally with the exhaust: the Akrapovic Sound Kit for deeper valve tuning, a CSF high-performance intercooler to protect intake temps, and a spring or coilover kit to close the RS6's factory wheel gap. Each ships specifically for the C8 RS6/RS7 platform.

Track-day owners should also budget for consumables: a set of EBC Yellowstuff rear brake pads ($200.25) gives the near-two-and-a-half-ton wagon more consistent bite once you start using the extra power.

Akrapovic Evolution Line vs aFe Mach Force-Xp: Which Should You Install?

Choose the Akrapovic Evolution Line if outright weight savings, titanium construction and factory-integrated valve control are the priority; choose the aFe Mach Force-Xp if you want a deeper 304 stainless tone at roughly a third of the price. Both are bolt-on cat-backs for the C8 RS6 Avant, so the install procedure above applies to either — the aFe kit does not require a separate link-pipe purchase.