The latest Audi A6 comes packed with safety and technology allied with the usual top-class interior we have come to expect from this luxury brand. The performance-oriented S6 variant has been a firm favorite with those that appreciate a subdued exterior design with sportscar crushing acceleration capabilities and our latest spy shots show the upcoming model taking to the track before its introduction next year.

Shorn of any camouflage, the S6 can be seen wearing bigger wheels, lowered suspension and those trademark quad tailpipes sticking out below a subtly redesigned rear bumper. Just as in the current S6, the front air intakes are bigger than the standard models while the side skirts also have a more purposeful look to them.

The outgoing S6 features a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 which is good for 450 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. However, it is quite likely that the new model will use the 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 currently employed in the new RS 5 and Porsche Panamera 4S. That powerplant may lack the aural excitement of the V8 but with 444 hp and 443 lb-ft on tap, but it's enough for the RS 5 to reach 60 mph in a staggering 3.7 seconds.

The current V8 S6 does it in 4.4 seconds so the new S6 will be even quicker than before while lowering emissions at the same time. We may also see the existing seven-speed dual-clutch transmission ditched in favor of an eight-speed automatic too which is actually a good thing.

Both the Audi S6 and Audi S6 Avant are due for an early 2019 debut and they will most likely feature identical mechanical specifications, although the Avant may (once again) not be made available here. Those wanting even more will need to wait for the upcoming 600-hp RS6 which shares its running gear with the twin-turbo V8 RS7.

Whether it will be making it to the US is still not totally clear though as the previous model was a wagon only so Audi didn't think we would want it. Let's hope it changes its minds this time, if not we always have the very capable S6 or the RS7 to keep us happy.