Only at the Ring will you see full-size luxury sedans powergliding.
Our spy saw the prototype of the new BMW M3 gliding around the Green Hell last week. Now they have spotted another test vehicle gliding around the Nurburgring. Audi didn’t bother to camouflage their super sedan. This likely means that an official unveiling of the will take place in the near future. It could be revealed at the Paris Motor Show in October.
Ingolstadt style dictates that less is more. The new super sedan will be based on the same styling principles as its flagship model. However, it will have fewer styling changes than the previous models. The large (19-inch) wheels are easy to spot. The large (19-inch) alloy wheels are surrounded by Audi Sport-branded brake discs. The rear bumper has been modified for the quad exhaust tips.
While powergliding through the many corners of the famed track, the prototype is very low and seems to be glued to it. It’s interesting to note that the license plate indicates it is the same car captured at beginning of the month but with different wheels.
Audi is expected to adapt the Porsche Panamera Turbo’s biturbo-4.0-liter V8. Rumors suggest that power will increase by around 20 horsepower over the S8. This would make the total of 540 hp. An S8 Plus is not planned, as that role has been taken by the S8 E-Tron using the same hybrid powertrain and Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid. The 680 horsepower Porsche engine will not be featured in the S8’s beefier version.
Audi’s A8 W12 is still available for those who want larger engines. However, it’s not a dying breed. Audi announced that the current generation of its luxury barge will be the last with a 12-cylinder engine.
Audi has decided to not introduce an RS8 to compete with Mercedes-AMG S63. In the same way, BMW is not making a M7 to challenge Mercedes-AMG S63, Audi will instead release an RS Q8 to counter the momentum of luxury SUVs that are going faster.