New 2018 Audi S7 spotted at the Nurburgring

After we spotted the new Audi A7 testing for the first time last month, it seems the hot S7 is hitting the road too,  getting ready for its release in 2018.

We can see that, like with the standard A7, the design of the performance version takes an evolutionary step on from the current car instead of rewriting the rulebook. The curvy roofline and muscular profile is largely the same, although a more prominent front grille is evident. In typically subtle Audi style, only the quad tailpipes and larger wheels give the car away as the hotter S7.

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Like most of the new Audis, it's the interior that's expected to take the biggest leap forward. We won't see the brand's next-generation Virtual Dashboard until the new Audi A8 launches this year, but the A7 and S7 are expected to utilise much of that car's tech, including haptic feedback for the touchscreen system.

Very little is known about what we can expect from under the skin, but the A7 should switch over to Audi's new MLB Evo platform, bringing improvements in interior space but also a lighter kerbweight. As a result, it's probable the S7 could move from the twin-turbocharged V8 to the 2.9-litre V6 engine that will debut in the R8 next year. Power could approach 500bhp as a result of this.

Are you looking forward to the Audi S7's arrival? Let us know in the comments...