Audi A7

Campers rejoice! Here's the world's first four-wheeled tent!

Or maybe not. These images show the new Audi A7 'four door coupe', set to hit showrooms in 2010 and challenge the Mercedes CLS for sleek-saloon supremacy. BMW will throw its hat into the ring with the 8-Series too, also expected in 2010.

The A7 is the latest of a raft of models set to emerge from Audi, with the A1 supermini and Q5 compact SUV appearing soon, and the Ingolstadt maker has high expectations for this stylish four-door - hoping to sell 40,000 per year.

The big Audi will be powered by a range of V6 and V8 petrol and diesel engines, but will not utilise the maker's smaller four-cylinder units, in keeping with its premium market position. A 5.2-litre V10 will come later, powering the S7 and RS7 performance flagships.

A starting price of around £35,000 is expected for the base V6 versions, though every model will feature a glut of technology, including the revised second-generation of Audi's multimedia interface (MMI).

And based on the comical disguise of the car in these pictures, Audi is clearly intent on keeping its stylish newcomer as hidden as possible. But fear not, because you can see the A7 in all its glory and get exclusive tech and engine details in Auto Express issue 1,018, on sale Wednesday 18th June.