2012 Audi S6

2012 Audi S6

2012 Audi S6

2012 Audi S6

2012 Audi S6

These are the first spy shots of the upcoming 2012 Audi S6, and surprisingly, it's not wearing anything in the way of camouflage. Perhaps with the new A6 already out and about, Audi thought it would slip under the radar--but it hasn't.

The 2012 S6 is expected to get a punchier version of Audi's upcoming 4.0-liter V-8 engine, taking the place of the 435-horsepower V-10 engine in the current 2011 S6. Power should still rest beyond the 400 horse mark, though fuel economy considerations could rein things in short of 500-horsepower--but that's where the RS6 will come to play.

We expect the S6 to make its debut late this year or early next. It may even skip the 2012 model year entirely, coming as an early 2013 model. The seriously hot RS6 will like wait a bit longer.