An RS7 version of Audi’s new A7 Sportback has been spied testing in near-production form.
Images of the super saloon posted by Evo today show a camouflage-wrapped version of the four-door A7 being driven on Germany roads - suggesting the performance model has been in development for some time.
It has been rumoured that the new RS7 will offer more than 600bhp, making it the second-most powerful model in the range, behind the V10-engined R8 supercar.
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The wraps are due to come off the new model towards the end of 2019. For now, here’s what we know about the sporty four-door saloon:
Price and UK on sale date
According to Autocar, the RS7 will join the Audi line-up after the less-powerful S7 joins the range in mid-2019.
Car magazine predicts a price tag of roughly £100,000, given that the outgoing Performance derivative cost £97,000.
Design
The RS7 is based on the existing A7 Sportback, so we already have a good idea of how the performance car will look.
Judging by the spy shots posted on Evo, the upcoming sports model will retain the regular A7’s sloping rear roofline, body-wide tail lights and large front grille.
The camouflaging on the test car makes it tricky to see what sporty touches Audi has given the RS7. However, it appears to have company’s traditional oval exhausts, while the bodywork looks wider than that on the base car.
Much of the front bumper in the newly revealed images is concealed, suggesting that the car will get an aggressive facelift to reflect its performance upgrades. There also appears to be remoulded air ducts at the front, possibly to help cool the vehicle’s bigger brakes.
Performance and specs
Audi is tipped to fit the next RS7 with the same 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine that features in the Porsche Panamera Turbo and Lamborghini Urus, says Autocar. A power output of 605bhp is expected, making the new car 53bhp more powerful than the old RS7, and 8bhp more than “run-out” RS7 Performance.
The crucial 0-62mph dash is rumoured to take just 3.5 seconds, with a maximum speed of 190mph, the magazine continues.
Auto Express reports that a dual-clutch eight-speed gearbox will come equipped as standard, as will the company’s Quattro all-wheel drive system.
And future RS7 Performance models may make use of plug-in hybrid technology “partly” developed by Porsche, the motoring magazine adds.
