With almost as much muscle as the R8 supercar, it has the performance to embarrass its two biggest rivals, the Mercedes CLS 500 and Jaguar XFR.
Can it also deliver the driving thrills to justify its £20k premium over the more rational 3.0 TDI version of the A7?
What’s the 2012 Audi S7 like to drive?
One thing that’s in no doubt is the S7’s staggering straight-line pace.
A new twin-turbo 414bhp 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine gives this four-wheel drive executive car a 0-62mph time of just 4.7 seconds – almost as quick as a Porsche Carrera.
Plant the throttle at any speed, and there’s a muted, bassy growl from the engine as you’re firmly pinned back in your seat.
You might imagine all this would make the S7 seriously good fun, but that's not the case.
There’s a massive amount of cornering grip once you’re settled in a bend, but even with the sportiest suspension and steering settings selected, the S7 feels heavy compared with a Jaguar XFR. The steering feels artificially weighted, too, which does little to improve your sense of connection with the road.
The brakes are strong, but there’s too much initial travel in the pedal, which is also rather disconcerting.
What the S7 is brilliant at, though, is covering long distances. A clever Active Noise Cancellation system works in much the same way as noise-cancelling headphones, by suppressing unwanted external noise. The result is an eerily quiet cabin, even at motorway speeds.
Select ‘Comfort’ and the suspension softens to give a supple high-speed ride.
The S7 also has some neat tricks to save fuel; a Cylinder on Demand system shuts off four of the eight cylinders when cruising to improve efficiency, and a stop-start system is also fitted as standard.
Average economy of 29.4 mpg and CO2 emissions of 225g/km make the S7 considerably more efficient than an XFR, although not as frugal as a CLS 500.
What's the 2012 Audi S7 like inside?
Aside from a few 'S' badges dotted around the cabin, the S7's interior is virtually indistinguishable from a regular A7's. That means the emphasis is placed firmly on luxury rather than sportiness; the materials are dense and beautifully textured, but there isn’t much to get your heart racing.
As with any other A7, there’s plenty of space inside for four big adults, although the swoopy styling does eat into bootspace, and means rear visibility isn’t great, either.
Standard equipment includes everything you'd expect for the money. The S7 comes with satellite-navigation, air suspension, xenon headlights, 19-inch alloys, four-zone climate control and a DAB radio.
If you want to spend even more cash, you can add ceramic brakes, a 15-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo and an upgraded version of Audi's MMI infotainment system, which can sync with your mobile phone to create a wi-fi hotspot inside the car.
Should I buy one?
For all of its pace and grip, the new S7 isn’t rewarding enough to justify a £20k premium over the 3.0 TDI. Go for this cheaper diesel version and you’ll get the same seductive looks and gorgeous cabin. You won't even feel short-changed on performance.
Alternatively, if driving thrills top your list of priorities, then Jaguar's XFR is your best bet at this price.
