When presented with a car that holds beneath its bonnet a Lamborghini-sourced V10 engine, it is strange to get so excited by its brakes. But the 385mm ceramic discs on the Audi S8 had the evo test team drooling. It might be a bit geeky for you to share our enthusiasm over the mechanism that brings the car to a halt, but you’ve got to love the concept of this automobile.

This S8 is like a supercar that just so happens to have four doors. An understated masterpiece. The 5-litre Gallardo engine has been bored out to 5.2 and is equipped with Audi’s FSI direct petrol injection technology, massaged for torque rather than pure horsepower. It doesn’t rev to the Gallardo’s screaming and high-pitched peak of 8000rpm, but even so, the Audi-adjusted V10 still produces 444bhp at 7000rpm and a strong 398lb ft at 3500rpm. It comes with a voice too; a deep baritone growl that negates any need to switch on the sleek and beautifully designed Bang & Olufsen in-car sound system. The Nascar-like howl of the engine almost had us as excited as the brakes. And it certainly turned a few heads. Had the Abu Dhabi F1 Festival arrived early?

Twist the key and the V10 flicks into life instantly, idling loudly enough to let you know that you’re in something special. Nudge the gearlever across from ‘D’ to ‘S’ to activate the paddles mounted on the back of the steering wheel (they’re always active, but if you don’t engage the true manual override, the electronics will soon reassert themselves), start to exercise the engine and the S8 really delivers. It’s fast. Very fast. Testing the car on the roads of Dubai meant we couldn’t verify Audi’s claims of 0-100kmh in 5.1 seconds, but this car is not left wanting in the acceleration department. There’s plenty of creamy torque too as the revs rise and the exhausts start to deliver their tuneful offbeat howl, the S8 gathers momentum with an easy, magical stride.

If the S8’s engine noise and ceramic brakes hint at its performance potential, then the adoption of the 40:60 front:rear torque split sends a clear signal that this car is intended to attack corners with as much enthusiasm as it devours highways. Of course, the quattro four-wheel drive system affords an enormous amount of traction – if any single wheel starts to spin, the brake to that wheel is applied until traction is regained.

A drive from Dubai to the out-of-town retreat of Bab Al Shams was the perfect example of how the Audi S8 could comfortably eat up a two-lane highway, yet nimbly navigate the newly-constructed, sweeping roundabouts that now exist in a stretch of empty desert that will one-day house the larger-than-Singapore themepark of Dubailand. Marketing material for the hotel suggests that it’s a 45-minute drive from Dubai. We were onsite considerably quicker.

The S8 rides slightly lower on a sportier variation of the A8’s fully adaptive air suspension and offers four different profiles to choose from via the car’s relatively easy-to-use multimedia interface – automatic, comfort, dynamic and lift. In any mode, the ride is both comfortable yet dynamic. The real bonus of all this suspension grooming is a revelation in sedan handling. The car suffers almost zero body roll under accelerating, braking or cornering. Through every corner ­– tight, long, high-speed, low-speed – the S8’s speed-dependent steering is a highlight and works in unity with the car’s suspension and rigid aluminium chassis.

The steering, despite being 10 per cent quicker than that of other A8s, would benefit from a shade more weight, but the six-speed ZF automatic gearbox is superb. It hits up-changes home with such speed and precision that you’d swear it was equipped with the VW Group’s DSG system. Even better, the clever gearbox delivers a rev-perfect blip between downshifts every time. It’s these little things that help give the S8 such a compelling split personality. It plays the executive role perfectly, but it’s surprisingly good fun when you’re in the mood for something a little more taxing.

You won’t be surprised to learn that ultimately the S8 will understeer gently rather than spit you sideways, but in a two-ton car of such generous proportions it would be churlish to complain about that. Pushed hard on the Dubai-Bab Al Shams road, the S8 could be made to understeer less, though full-on oversteer on dry pavement requires manhandling, something we weren’t prepared to do in a car owned by the general manager of Audi Middle East. Instead, just revel in the security and glorious noise.

Another important thing to note about the S8 is that all those things that make the A8 an attractive proposition have been retained or enhanced. Despite the appearance of the Lambo V10 engine, this car knows it’s an executive saloon. There’s the same exquisite interior, but with leather sports seats and carbon fibre finishing. Sports seats incidentally that electronically adjust to the comfort of virtually any body that nature throws at them. There’s also a matching leather sports steering wheel, Bluetooth hands-free telephone function with voice recognition that can also operate the stereo and navigation system. All that, plus enough illuminated knobs to navigate the car into outer space and a parking sensor system with camera mode that can help you make that journey.

The styling on the outside is as equally subtle as the interior: contrast aluminium sideview mirrors, an almost shy decorating of ‘S8’ and ‘V10’ badges, oval exhaust tips and perhaps most obvious of all, an intimidating yet stylish aluminium grill.

With this new S8, Audi has done a lot to give its largest S model a sense of occasion. Something that can compete with the Mercedes S63 AMG and Maserati Quattroporte. But the effect is understated compared to those other super sedans. This is a car for buyers who appreciate a well-rounded package more than bragging rights. Subtlety is its virtue; the S8 is not a car for attention seekers.

Oh, I nearly forgot … the ceramic brakes work superbly. Slow cars pulling into the left lane of Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai gave us ample opportunity to test them.

SPECIFICATIONS
AUDI S8

Engine: V10
Location: Front, longitundinal
Displacement: 5204cc
Cylinder block: Aluminium alloy
Cylinder head: dhoc, four valves per cylinder with continuous camshaft adjustment for the intake and exhaust valves
Fuel and ignition: FSI petrol direct injection. Reglated high pressure and low pressure fuel system
Max power: 444bhp @ 7000rpm
Max torque: 398lb ft @ 3500rpm
Transmission: Six-speed tiptronic with DSP and additional sport program
Front suspension: Four-link, double upper and lower wishbones, anti roll-bar, air suspension
Rear suspension: Self-tracking, trapezoidal link, axle with wishbone, anti roll-bar, air suspension
Brakes: Diagonally split dual-circuit brake system with ESP Wheels Cast aluminium ‘S’ design 20-inch
Weight (kerb): 2540kg
Power-to-weight: 333bhp/ton
0-100kmh: 5.1 sec (claimed)
Top speed: 250kmh (limited)
Basic price: $ 107,500