Audi S7 spy shots

Text: Jack Rix / Photos: Automedia

08th June 2011

It's not the first time we've caught Audi's pumped-up CLS-rival in the open, see the fully-camouflaged car here, but these are the first shots of it undisguised. And on the evidence of these pictures, the S7 is ready to roll.

Despite an absence of badges to give the game away, it's clear that this is the first of a pair of V8-powered A7's on the way. Wearing quad exhaust pipes, a bodykit and beefed-up wheel arches the subtle makeover reveals this is the S7 variant - due to debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

The second model, which will feature an even wider track, bigger arches and (if the RS5 is anything to go by) huge twin oval exhausts, will be the RS7 - although we're yet to catch the more extreme model in the metal.

Both cars are expected to use different versions the all-new 4.0-litre turbocharged V8, which will be used throughout the VW Group portfolio - including in the Bentley Continental GT. It's likely to produce around 400bhp for the S7 and 150bhp more in the RS7, giving Audi a genuine rival to the CLS63 AMG. And you can read our drive of the Mercedes here.