You'll buy this car because of what it says about its brand and because of what it says about you, with a look that's measured, efficient, sporting and quietly exclusive. The long bonnet, the long wheelbase and the short overhangs create perfect proportions, while the swooping roofline is reasonably successful in giving this five-door model the character of a coupe. Subtle, eye-catching details set the S7 apart from its humbler A7 stablemates.
The wide, low Singleframe grille features lamellas in aluminium and a centre section in dark chrome matt. The air inlets are enlarged over those normally featuring on an A7, with very bold contours, and their honeycomb-structure inserts are finished in titanium black. The blade running through them is trimmed in gleaming aluminium, as are the exterior mirror housings. Features that distinguish this S7 from its S6 saloon counterpart include the funnels in the air inlets and the angular trim strips on the side sills.
The cabin is as well appointed as you'd expect from a range-topping A7 Sportback model, with beautiful monogrammed leather sports seats, and an S-specific graphic layout for the standard-fit Audi Virtual Cockpit instrument binnacle digital display which here features a central rev counter.
The back seat offers reasonable space for three adults, but much more comfortable room for two and you get a fold down centre armrest with storage and cup holders. Out back, in this five-door model there's a 535-litre boot, extendable to 1,390-litres.