- The RS6 Avant replacement may receive a plug-in hybrid V8 with over 700 hp.
- The RS7 Avant will feature a distinctive body kit, complete with wide fenders.
The beloved Audi RS6 Avant is on the chopping block, and soon, it will no longer exist. Fortunately, that doesn’t mean Audi is giving up on high-horsepower, aggressive estates, as it plans to replace the RS6 with the upcoming RS7 Avant. Alongside the new name, this wagon rocketship will benefit from significant upgrades.
Spotted while testing on the streets around the Nurburgring Nordschleife, the RS7 Avant will look just as bold as the model it replaces. That’s good news for fans and prospective owners, but the new model will have to bring its A-game as BMW is getting ready to challenge its leadership with the upcoming M5 Touring.
Read: Fat-Fendered Audi RS7 Avant Reminds Us BMW’s M5 Touring Isn’t The Only Fast Wagon On The Horizon
This prototype has been equipped with a distinctive front fascia that includes a large singleframe grille alongside a pair of sharp and eye-catching air intakes. The headlights appear slightly smaller than those of the outgoing model but retain a similarly menacing shape with LED daytime running lights incorporated within.
Like previous RS6 iterations, the wheel arches of the new model are also much wider than they’ll be on the standard A7. Sitting under these arches are new multi-spoke wheels with a black finish and while not visible in these photos, there will be a set of huge brakes sitting behind them.
Audi’s engineers have done a valiant job hiding the rear end, but we can see two oval-shaped tailpipes located further inboard compared to the current RS6 Avant. New lights are also featured, complete with a full-width light bar.
Few details about the RS7 Avant’s powertrain are known. Given that more and more performance models like this are shifting to hybrid systems, it’d be reasonable to assume the RS7 will do the same. This would make sense as many VW Group brands, including Porsche, Lamborghini, and Bentley, have plug-in hybrid V8s. If this setup finds its way into the RS7, we expect it to produce over 700 hp.
