Mules for the Audi A6 and S6 successor were spied earlier this month, and now we might be getting a look at the RS6 replacement.
Slated to adopt the RS7 moniker, the latest mule appears to be a mash up of an A6 and RS6 Avant. The front end carries over from the high-performance wagon, but the model is clearly a sedan. This is notable as Audi doesn’t offer an RS6 sedan and the closest you can get is the RS7 liftback.
The rest of the body appears to carryover from the current A6, but the mule has sizable fender flares which indicate the car may have a wider track. We can also see a dual exhaust system as well as a charging port and an electrification warning sticker. Other notable highlights include aggressive side skirts and five-spoke wheels that are backed up by a beefy braking system.
More: Audi RS6 And RS7 Gain New Performance Editions With More Power And Less Weight
Little else is known about the model at this point, but last year reports surfaced that Audi’s Head of Research & Development confirmed the RS6 successor would feature a plug-in hybrid powertrain. He was also said to have hinted this “gives you more possibilities in driving modes” as well as the ability to make up for “certain weak points” of combustion engines.
While a number of questions remain, Audi could take a few cues from the Porsche Panamera which offers an assortment of plug-in hybrid powertrains including one that consists of a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8, an electric motor, and a 17.9 kWh battery pack. This gives the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid a combined output of 690 hp (515 kW / 700 PS) and 641 lb-ft (868 Nm) of torque, which is far more than the current RS6 Avant.
