You've gotta give credit to folks who deal with issues head on. During the press launch for the S6 and S8, Audi reps had no qualms about discussing the competition – namely, the 500-horsepower BMW M5. Yes, the Bimmer is more powerful, but our hosts argued that their sedans were more refined, making them preferable as daily drivers.

And refined they are…in a sports sedan sorta way. For its part, the S6 limits the intrusion of engine noise into the cabin, even under full throttle, and launches from a dead stop are sudden and authoritative, though necks are not snapped in the process. Around town or while cruising through congested traffic, occupants of the 2007 Audi S6 will be subjected to a stiff ride that's offset by firm yet immensely supportive sport seats. Higher speeds elicit a fair amount of road noise. There was one more point we noticed during the more casual sections of the drive – the throttle required some finesse when accelerating from a stop. On initial tip in, there was little response, with just a bit more pressure causing the powertrain to stir. Not a big problem, but noticeable.

Important as traffic duty is, it's unlikely that many buyers will shell out the extra cash for an S6 just to crawl back and forth to the office. The S6 is like a young Labrador Retriever (or given its German heritage, a Weimaraner) that needs to be allowed to stretch its legs, set free in some open space to exercise. That's where the driver will come to appreciate this sedan's tremendous balance, evidenced by the S6's ability to hunker down in the corners with negligible body roll and just a hint of understeer. Audi is aimed at convincing shoppers that AWD is just as important to handling and grip as it is to snow and ice, a suggestion that quickly bears merit when the hardware is tested on a twisty, dry road. Confident that all four wheels are working for traction, the driver can be more comfortable in experiencing the V10's tremendous power.

With large ventilated discs, capable of dissipating heat and thus limiting fade, braking is consistently a worry-free endeavor in the S6. Steering is almost equally praiseworthy, especially given its added weight at higher speeds, but road feel could be bumped up a hair and an extra helping of responsiveness couldn't hurt. That may be part of the whole refinement gig, where brute rough edges are slightly softened. Same goes for the powertrain, which in addition to being too muted under full throttle features occasionally delayed shifts when using the steering wheel paddles or center lever's manual mode. Plant the throttle with the tranny in regular drive mode and the S6 is smooth, putting miles upon miles behind you with incredible and self-assured ease. Click the shifter down to sport mode and, as expected, downshifts are much more immediate while upshifts are forced to wait as the V10 unleashes its magic in the higher revs. If you're not a fan of paddle shifters, the sport mode is the next best thing as it automatically blips the throttle and downshifts as the driver brakes into a turn, and then selects the appropriate gear for a tail-haulin' charge into the next straightaway.