Generalized E7(7) coset dynamics and D=11 supergravity

The hidden on-shell E-7(7) symmetry of maximal supergravity is usually discussed in a truncation from D = 11 to four dimensions. In this article, we reverse the logic and start from a theory with manifest off-shell E-7(7) symmetry inspired by West's coset construction. Following de Wit's and Nicolai's idea that a 4+56 dimensional "exceptional geometry" underlies maximal supergravity, we construct the corresponding Lagrangian and the supersymmetry variations for the 56 dimensional subsector. We prove that both the dynamics and the supersymmetry coincide with D = 11 supergravity in a truncation to d = 7 in the expected way.