It might have launched its new A7 with just six-cylinder engines, but Audi will turn to high horsepower to give its S7 enough muscle to mix it with the E63 and the M5.
In a move that could spell the end of Audi's 4.2-litre V8 motor, sources insist the hotter version of the big five-door will use the turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 slated for a cheaper version of the new Bentley Continental GT. That means the new Audi could go on sale before the Bentley itself, as the British-built luxury coupe won't offer the V8 turbo before late 2011.
The jointly-developed V8 will have direct fuel injection and produces around 40 per cent fewer CO2 emissions than the current twin-turbo W12 Bentley engine.
It also means the S7 will use the eight-speed automatic transmission developed specifically to sit behind the new, all-alloy V8.
While power and torque figures are yet to be disclosed, expect around 370kW and something close to 650Nm of torque, which would push the S7 to 100km in well under five seconds. Even the current A7 3.0-litre TFSI does the sprint in 5.6 seconds.
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