The name Audi S6 conjures images of a proper performance car: big power, turbocharged muscle and, ideally, a gloriously thirsty petrol engine.

The latest-generation C8 S6 delivers most of the goods. But in Europe, there’s a twist. Instead of a petrol V6, buyers got a 3.0-litre turbocharged diesel. Heresy? Not quite.

With nearly 350 hp and a colossal 700 Nm (516 lb-ft) of torque, the diesel S6 has more than enough muscle to hustle this executive estate along at a distinctly un-executive pace.

And all that twisting force means effortless, wave-after-wave acceleration, without the need to wring its neck. Sometimes, the fuel of the devil makes a rather convincing case for itself.

Peter’s S6 Avant takes the understated menace a step further, wearing a set of Barracuda Racing Wheels Project 2.0 alloys.

Part of the brand’s Ultralight Series, these Flow Forged wheels measure a substantial 10.5×22 inches, with an ET32 offset. Their Black Brushed finish suits the all-black Audi perfectly: subtle, sinister and about as welcoming as a nightclub bouncer.

Wrapped in 265/30ZR22 Laufenn tyres, the wheels fill the arches beautifully, while the factory air suspension remains in place to preserve the car’s adjustable ride.

The result is a diesel-powered family wagon with serious presence, immense torque and a suitably sporting stance. It may not have the petrol soundtrack purists crave, but with wheels like these, the S6 proves that performance isn’t always about what’s under the bonnet. Sometimes, it’s about how you roll.