Drivers, dealers and factory staff in Germany and Austria have reason to watch the test routes this autumn: recent spy photography shows development pushing in two directions at once — high‑performance internal combustion from AMG and an expanding electric model line‑up from Porsche and Audi. These sightings map directly to Stuttgart and Ingolstadt production and to volume EV choices for European buyers.
Mercedes‑AMG Mythos: more air, same flat‑plane V8
Mercedes‑AMG’s halo coupe — billed in media coverage as the CLE Mythos or CLE 63 Mythos — was photographed this summer with a newly cut, "gaping hood intake" and revised aero as engineers continue cooling development for its flat‑plane 4.0‑litre twin‑turbo V8. The spy report says the car now shows an exposed carbon‑fibre roof and test work on airflow, and cites target outputs in the mid‑600‑hp range; publication reporting places the expected power roughly between 637 and 646 hp and says production won’t begin before 2027.
Porsche Cayenne EV Coupe: Zuffenhausen testing the coupe silhouette
Porsche was caught testing a camouflaged Cayenne EV coupe prototype on public roads around Zuffenhausen, revealing a sloping roofline that suggests Porsche will add a coupe variant to its mid‑size BEV SUV family. Photographers also noted rectilinear taillight shapes and evidence of rear‑axle steering on the mule — details that point to a production intent to keep Porsche’s sporty handling in EV form. Car and Driver’s coverage highlights the Zuffenhausen sighting and the visible aerodynamic bodywork.
Audi A2 E‑tron: camouflage dropped before an autumn reveal
Audi’s revived A2 E‑tron prototypes have been seen without heavy black‑and‑white camo, displaying a distinctive livery and a rear spoiler nodding to the original A2. Motor1’s report says these prototypes were photographed while resting between test sessions and that Audi plans an official reveal later this year; the coverage links the A2’s underpinnings to Volkswagen Group small‑EV hardware and positions the model as Audi’s new entry point after the A1 and Q2 were discontinued.
What this means for the market
Taken together the sightings underline two concurrent strategies: AMG preserves a small, halo‑paying combustion‑powered portfolio even as the rest of the market electrifies, while VW Group brands continue to expand BEV choice downmarket to protect volumes. That has immediate implications for Germany and Austria. Porsche testing at Zuffenhausen signals further factory activity in the Stuttgart region and confirms continued investment in EV variants from established plants; Audi’s A2 will be crucial for urban buyers and fleet volumes in Germany and Austria if it reaches the market at the prices suggested by commentators.
For dealers the picture is familiar but sharpened: premium showrooms must be ready to sell and service both sophisticated BEVs (more body variants, rear‑axle steering, new charging requirements) and low‑volume, high‑value ICE models that require specialist workshop skills. For buyers, the Porsche and Audi test mules signal more choice in EV body shapes and price points; for employees at AMG and Porsche the prototype work points to production ramp planning that will affect shifts and supplier orders into 2027.
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Sources: CarScoops, Car and Driver, Motor1
