Spies break first pics of Audi A7 in testing-Front view

Audi of Ingolstadt will release this fall a concept car for the upcoming new Audi A7. However, already now – although the production version is not expected to be due before 2009 - first mules of the four door coupe have been sighted taking repeated laps at Germany’s trace track Nürburgring. The prototype can be distinguished from its wider fenders, bigger tyres and expensive alloy wheels - painted black. The production car will get a luxury style four seat interior, frameless doors, a glass roof, and offers a choice of six different fuel and Diesel V6 and V8 engines, and for the top of the line version the Lamborghini V10.

This new model by Audi will aim directly at the competitor Mercedes CLS, which became a best seller recently, due to the fact that Daimler-Chrysler is still the only one with this type of car on the market. Therefore, not only Audi but also Jaguar and Volkswagen are striving to get a rival up and going soonest. Jaguar’s will be the upcoming XJ replacement, and Volkswagen is developing a Passat-based coupe with four frameless doors, too

Hans G. Lehmann/ Hidden Image

wwww - 6/9/2006 2:14:23 PM

+1 Boost

It looks more like a S4 or RS4 in testing for a stripped down version aiming for pure performance. It probably has lots of CF and aluminum and the interior would most likely have CFs and less bulk. I think this is more like the SLK AMG special edition or the M3 CSL, cars which are track and street ready.

phantom330 - 6/9/2006 3:24:13 PM

+1 Boost

I don't get the 4 door coupe concept either, but whatever they want to call it. This looks good, although it can't match the good looks of the CLS, I don't think any sedan or "4 door coupe" can at this point. The CLS is one of the best looking cars on the road right now. Driving dynamics might be a different story, but the looks can't be beat.

dblo7 - 6/9/2006 4:32:33 PM

+1 Boost

Looks like an A4 with wider fenders. It does look good and I am also confused on the 4 door Coupe thing. I can consider the RX8 a coupe, but 4 doors with 4 handles = sedan.

chewy - 6/10/2006 6:14:29 PM

+1 Boost

The a4 is the only current Audi that is made into an RS4 by Quattro GMBH at this point in time. The R8 will be completely made by Quttro GMBH. The new RS6 is still couple of years away.

chewy - 6/10/2006 9:32:52 PM

+1 Boost

BTW, I think that this is probably a mule for the A5 or the next generation A4, and not the A7. The A5 will definately come out much earlier. You can see that this is no regular RS4, most likely the new A5/A4.

chewy - 6/12/2006 1:47:11 AM

+1 Boost

Audi does/will offer an S model for all of its cars. There is a S4, S6, S8, the S3 is debuting later this year. With a 272 hp 2.0 TFSI engine, but unlikely that it will be sold in the America. I think there is a possibility of an S version of the Q7, with the 5.2 liter V10.