Stunning sophistication

The Audi S7 Sportback is a stunning piece of German engineering that commands respect and attention wherever it goes.

Its exterior is sharp, stylish and aggressive. In essence, its quintessentially Audi, which means that the appeal keeps rolling once you slip inside ... perhaps this is why Gwyneth Paltrow’s Pepper Potts character in Iron Man 3 was cruising around in one?

Subtle yet eye-catching details such as the stitched leather bucket seats exude an air of sporty sophistication, as does the leather dash and sunroof. The styling is simple yet modern and comfortable, a winning combination.

From the moment you push the start button ignition an 8-inch display console seductively slides out of the centre stack, which gives you information about practically everything the S7 does.

Thursday afternoons in Bahrain are notoriously busy thanks to the influx of visitors from across the Causeway, which meant I was stuck in traffic for the majority of my test drive.

It’s painful to have 420 ponies under the bonnet and no room to gallop, but thankfully I was sitting pretty and had plenty to keep me busy while I waited to hit an open stretch of road.

I find the best way to get a feel for a car’s infotainment system is to avoid the owner’s manual and get to work pushing buttons and seeing what happens ... and since I was stuck in gridlock, I had plenty of time to explore the S7’s features.

The new Audi S7 has a generous list of standard equipment. It includes LED headlights with an all-weather light, LED rear lights and the ambient lighting package, adaptive air suspension, sports seats, a convenience key with power rear hatch as well as the parking system plus with 360 degree camera. Also included are an electromechanical parking brake and the driver information system with colour display. The MMI navigation system plus with MMI touch includes a Bluetooth interface, and the BOSE Surround Sound system.

This is a car that was made to be driven, not stifled in bumper-to-bumper traffic. After what seemed like an eternity, the gridlock dispersed and I finally had the chance to put this model through its paces. It did not disappoint.

Under the bonnet is a new engine – a four-litre, twin-turbo V8, which combines ample power with low fuel consumption. It provides a constant 550Nm of torque from 1,400 to 5,200rpm and accelerates from 0-100kmph in around 4.7 seconds.

As I bolted down the Sitra Highway I was stunned by the car’s power and handling. Precise, responsive and smooth, this is a drive I won’t soon forget.

There are also a number of driving modes to suit your needs. The S7’s acceleration, even without switching to Dynamic mode, is frankly incredible. Add to the mix, Audi’s Quattro all-wheel-drive and adaptive air suspension and you’re guaranteed that this model fires off the mark faster and smoother than a speeding bullet.

A number of subtle but significant design and technology modifications have been made to give the car a stronger presence on the road and provide an even more luxurious and powerful driving experience.

New to the S family is the parking system with 360 degree camera. Four small cameras record images of the sedan’s immediate surroundings. The driver can call up a variety of views on the MMI monitor, including a virtual top-down view. The system enhances safety while manoeuvring in narrow driveways. Special views also allow the driver to see cross-traffic.

The S7 may not be as powerful as Iron Man’s robotic suit or even as sporty as his R8 e-tron prototype, but it’s certainly got enough cool gadgets, astounding power and pure sophistication to keep this motoring critic feeling like a super hero behind the wheel.

Prices start from BD35,130, including five-years service, five-years unlimited kilometres warranty and five-years road side assistance.

For details, call Audi Centre Bahrain on 17459933.