Audi RS5

Say hello to the hottest A5 ever! Spied during high-speed testing at Germany’s Nürburgring circuit, this is the mighty Audi RS5. Set to go head-to-head with BMW’s M6, the newcomer will pack a twin-turbo 4.2-litre V8. That should mean 450bhp, a five-second 0-60mph time plus a 155mph top speed.

That’s why this prototype has a deep front spoiler with larger air intakes – they’re there to keep the engine cool. The rest of this mule’s bodywork is very similar to that of the S5, but the finished car will get bulging wheelarches, side skirts and huge twin oval exhaust pipes with a fixed rear wing, just like the new TT RS.

Under the skin, the engine will be bolted to quattro four-wheel drive with a 40:60 rearward power bias, while the transmission will be a six-speed manual 'box. There’ll be magnetic dampers and vast vented disc brakes, too. The RS5 goes on sale in 2010 and will cost around £50,000.