Audi’s CLS-fighting A7 caught in testing

It’s not long now before the stylish Audi A7 goes on sale late next year. And our spies have caught the Mercedes CLS-rivalling coupe undergoing dynamic testing prior to its launch.

In profile view there’s no mistaking which model you’re looking at. The dramatic roofline mimics that of its Mercedes rival, stretching the length of the car and tailing off dramatically towards the rear.

The A7 will be based on the same platform as the new A8 – essentially a stretched version of the A5’s underpinnings.

Six engines will be available from launch: a trio of V6 diesels, including an all-new 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged unit, as well as a V8 and supercharged V6 petrol powerplants. There’s even a possibility of the colossal 6.0-litre V12 diesel, now available on the Q7 SUV, making its way under the bonnet, as well as a supercar-battling RS7, featuring a 600bhp-plus version of the twin-turbo V10 from the RS6.