Another powerful V-8 could soon exit the car scene. Audi is working on a new RS7, still serving as the brand’s high-performance flagship. But when it arrives, there may be fewer cylinders under the hood.
The V-6 will replace the current 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8, according to car. This does not mean that she will lose power in the process. The unnamed sources cited in the report claim it will use a hybrid electric powertrain capable of generating 725 horsepower. This is well above the RS7’s current 621-hp rating, and may expand higher depending on the batteries and electric motors used. The report claims that future RS7 performance versions could reach 800 hp through temporary boost jobs.
We don’t have any details about the hybrid powertrain at this time. We suspect it will combine multiple engines with Audi’s 2.9-liter V-6, and offer at least some electric-only range. Audi declined our request for comment on the upcoming car, so for now, we’re left to speculate.
Audi is currently reshaping its lineup to combine electric models with hybrid and combustion versions. The current A6 as we know it will become the next A7, giving way in favor of the full A6 E-tron. The RS6 Avant will migrate to the RS7 Avant, so there is still some mystery regarding the Sedan and Riftback versions when they currently exist. Fortunately, we don’t have to wait much longer for the full reveal. We first spotted the new RS7 nearly two years ago, testing it in public as a prototype wearing a modified S6 body. Based on this, we expect the debut to occur by the end of this year.