New Audi RS7 spotted testing: fast estate car gets a new name

• New Audi A7 Avant spotted testing
• A6 Avant replacement gets a new name
• Overhauled exterior styling
• Range of engines likely to remain similar
• RS7 Avant also spotted
• Could use a PHEV V8 with almost 700hp

This is the replacement for the Audi A6 Avant, and it’ll be called the A7 in line with the brand’s new naming structure. It’s only been spotted in camouflage for now, however a full reveal is expected at the end of the year.

Along with the cooking A7 Avant, the hot new RS7 Avant has also been snapped by Carwow’s spy photographers. It could use a plug-in hybrid V8 engine from Porsche, meaning almost 700hp could be possible.

New Audi A7 Avant design

Audi doesn’t tend to go in for massive styling overhauls, and you can tell the new A7 Avant will be an evolution of the current A6 despite the heavy camouflage on this pre-production prototype.

It does have a much, much wider grille than the A6 though, making it look more imposing on the road. The headlights also haven’t adopted the split design you’ll find on Audi’s new EVs such as the Q6 e-tron and the A6 e-tron.

The side profile is very similar to the A6’s though, with a sloping roofline making it look more sporty than something like a Mercedes E-Class Estate. The flush-fitting door handles are new though, and they look like they’re lifted from the Q6 e-tron.

Looking at the rear end, the taillights look a bit like the ones you’ll find on the Audi RS e-tron GT – they have the same arrow shape as that car’s – and there’s a full-width light bar hiding under the wrap. This car is the sporty S7, something which is given away by the quad tailpipe setup.

New Audi A7 Avant engines

Audi has committed to being an EV-only brand by 2033, so it’s unlikely to be working on any all-new combustion engines for the A7 Avant. This means you can expect to see a similar range of 2.0-litre petrol and plug-in hybrid units to the current A6.

New Audi RS7 Avant also spotted

But what will replace the supercar-beating Audi RS6 Avant? Well the new Audi RS7 Avant has also been caught out and about by Carwow’s spy photographers.

You can already see some of the aggressive styling changes over the standard A7. The front bumper is much deeper and there are massive air intakes off to the side. You can also tell this car is a bit wider as well thanks to flared wheel arches, which are likely to accommodate much wider wheels compared to the normal A7.

The side profile is pretty similar to the current Audi RS6. It has a sloping roofline and deep side skirts for a sporty appearance, something which is accentuated by the rear wing. There’s a deeper rear bumper as well with the signature Audi RS oval tailpipes poking out.

So what’s powering this new performance estate car? Well it’s likely to retain a V8 engine, just like the current RS6, however you can expect to see some hybrid tech to boost power and lower emissions.

Check out Mat’s review of the current Audi RS6 Performance…

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see a similar plug-in hybrid setup to the new Porsche Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid. That car has a similar 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 to the current RS6, but it also has an electric motor to make a combined 680hp. That’s a healthy 50hp more than today’s RS6.

New Audi A7 Avant: when can I buy one?

This year is a busy one for Audi, with the launch of the new Q6 e-tron earlier this year and the A6 e-tron recently as well. You can expect to see the new A7 Avant make its debut towards the end of the year, with the RS7 appearing in 2025.

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