WorldCarFans photographers were lucky enough to spot a prototype Audi S7 out in the wild near the Nurburgring test track in Germany. What we can deduce from the photos is fairly typical of what we’d expect – a quad-pipe exhaust, sexy S-type wheels with big brakes, a retractable rear spoiler, and what will surely be a slightly modified, more aggressive appearance.

The expected powertrain, although we’ve been wrong about this before, is a 440+ hp, 4.2-liter V8. Make sure to check out WCF for more details and images.

The hottest hatch of all hot hatches, the upcoming Audi RS3, has been spotted testing on the Nurburgring in Germany, and we have pictures. It may look like an S3 on the outside, but it’s sporting the guts of the high-performance RS3 underneath.

Expect it to receive the same 2.5-liter, five-cylinder turbo engine found in the TT RS, but tuned to more than 330 hp giving it a 0 to 60 time of less than 5 seconds. The engine will be paired with Audi’s S tronic transmission with the quattro system putting down power to all four wheels.

Plenty of interior and exterior changes will give the RS3 a more aggressive look than the S3. We expect Audi to unveil the RS3 officially later this year. Will it make it here to the States? Probably not, unfortunately, but we can always dream.

Check out more info and pictures at AutoExpress

The folks at Autocar.co.uk were lucky enough to get some shots of the upcoming Audi S8 during winter testing, which you can see in the pictures. The bodywork on the car you see here is that of a standard A8, which will obviously be modified for the S8 during production. We know it’s an S8, however, because of the bigger brakes and quad exhaust system you can see below.

We don’t know much else about the S8 yet, although speculation says it will be receiving its power from a turbocharged 4.2-liter V8 instead of the V10 we originally expected. Regarding design:

Audi’s design director Stefan Sielaff told Autocar at the A8’s launch last year that the S8 would “create a new design grammar which will also go onto the next S6, S7 and S1″.

Sielaff also said there would be an increased use of both aluminium and carbon fibre in the cabins of future S models to make them more special than the standard cars.

Expect to see full details on the S8 later this year for a launch in early 2011. No word yet on whether it’s coming to the States, but unfortunately it seems unlikely.

Check out Autocar.co.uk for more pictures and info.

One of the sexiest cars on the road, the Audi S5, just got even sexier. AUSmotive.com somehow got their hands on a sales brochure for the 2011 Audi RS5 before it was unveiled at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show in March. No detailed information about the upcoming high-performance coupe were given, but we think it will get a super- or turbo-charged version of the magnificent 4.2-liter V8 engine found in the R8 and other high-performance Audis. Expect a lot of horsepower here – this thing is going to rip up the road.

Sadly it seems no manual transmission is available, but I’m hoping Audi will make that an option shortly after launch. Notice the RS 5 badges on the front, back, and brake calipers, as well as on the door sills, seats, shifter knob, and standard-shaped steering wheel (not flat-bottomed as on the R8.) According to the pictures, a unique red/black interior color scheme is available, which looks very cool. Carbon fiber and brushed aluminum interior trim is ultra-modern and sexy. Three seating options and four wheels appear to be available as options. Please Audi, let this come to the States!

Update: Details on the 2011 Audi RS5

Check out the images of the RS5 below, and thanks again to AUSmotive.com for the info:

2010 Audi A7 Spied

Today we find ourselves with a few more spy shots of the upcoming Audi A7, this time courtesy of Car Magazine. The heavily camo’d A7 test mule doesn’t give away anything more than we didn’t already know, but it’s good to see one on the streets.

The 2010 Audi A7 will compete with the Mercedes CLS, and is essentially a sexier hatchback version of the A6 sedan. Expect the North American version of the A7 to include a 204 hp, 2.8-liter V6 and a 300 hp, 3.0-liter supercharged V6, while upgrading to the 2011 S7 to be released a year later will get you into a 4.0-liter V8 engine producing 397 hp. The European version, as always, will have a wider choice of engines including diesel variants. The engines will be mated to either a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 7- or 8-speed automatic transmission.

Head over to Car Magazine for more images.

2011 Audi A7 Spied

Some lucky photographers got a sneak peek at the upcoming Audi A7 recently.

The A7 line, including the S7 and RS7 variants will come with a large variety of powerplants, starting with a 204 hp, 2.8-liter V6 and a 300 hp, 3.0-liter supercharged V6. Upgrading to the S7 (not to be confused with the Saleen S7 supercar) will bag you a 4.0-liter V8 engine pushing 397 hp. The RS7, the most powerful of the trims, will likely feature the same 5.0-liter 600 hp twin-turbo V10 engine rumored to be powering the R8 successor.

Expect a 6-speed manual gearbox standard and a 7- or 8-speed automatic available as well. All-wheel-drive quattro will be standard on all North American versions.

We should start seeing the A7 in 2010, with the S7 a year later and the RS7 two years after that.

Head over to MotorAuthority for more images.

2010 Audi A1 Spied

We’ve been hearing about the compact Audi A1 for a while, and now we have our first official spy shots of the small hatchback. The A1 will be a likely competitor to the Mini Cooper, and as you can see from the photos taken outside of Audi headquarters in Munich, Germany, it will first be released as a three-door hatchback model with a five-door version to follow.

The 2010 Audi A1 will be shown at next year’s Geneva Motor Show, and will be on sale later in the year. Expect a FWD layout initially, with a possible quattro system down the road. While there is no word on engine choices, we expect a wide range of gasoline and diesel choices in Europe, with only a few engine choices in the States if it makes its way over here.

source: carmagazine

2010 Audi RS5

As we near the release of the 2010 RS5 supercoupe, we find some more spy shots of the car courtesy of Next Autos.

The RS5 will likely debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show sporting a modified version of Audi’s 4.2-liter V8 with around 450 horsepower. Considering how great of a car the S5 is, I’m very excited to see the RS5 in action. Since Audi decided to downgrade the S5 to a supercharged V6, it’s good we get to keep a V8 in the mix.

Huge air intakes, a rear lip spoiler, and wide fenders hint at the extra power under the hood from the V8 engine which produce a sound the photographers said was “to die for.” I don’t doubt that for a minute.

Check out the pictures at NextAutos

Previous spy photos: 1 and 2

Lightweight R8 V10

The lightweight R8 V10′s aerodynamics you see in the pictures here have been modified slightly to include a front spoiler and rear fixed wing to increase downforce. A moderate power increase is also expected, but don’t think it will surpass the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4′s 552 hp. Something in the 530 hp range is a reasonable bump up from the V10′s 518 stock hp.

The lightweight R8 V10 will lose some weight by removing unnecessary luxuries like air conditioning and audio system, and will likely replace the leather seats with lighter sport seats. Extensive use of carbon fiber will also be likely. It will probably keep the signature quattro AWD system.

source: Autocar

The good fellows at AutoExpress spotted the Audi R8 V10 Spyder used during filming of the movie Iron Man 2. The 525 horsepower car will exclusively use the 5.2-liter V10 engine at first, but will probably get the 4.2-liter V8 down the road as well. I still think the Spyder is an abomination and should be buried far, far away. For God’s sake, it doesn’t even have the sideblade! I’ll stick with the R8 coupe, thanks Audi.

Head over to AutoExpress for a few more pictures.