The front row is a little short on storage space, and if you use the smallish center console/armrest, it can make for an awkward angle to reach the shifter. Flipping it back gives you a straight shot to the stick, though you’ve lost your elbow support. Rear seats are plus two size and hold kids comfortably. The trunk ranges from 8-10 cubic feet, depending on whether the top is deployed. It’s big enough to be useable, even in its smallest iteration, and there’s a pass-through ski-sack portal to the rear seat area that is said to be sufficient to hold a set of golf clubs.

Power is provided by Audi’s 4.2 liter V8, coupled to a six speed manual (or optional Tiptronic automatic. The Audi eight is a beautifully smooth operator. With 340 hp peaking at 7,000 rpm and 302 lb. ft. of torque cresting at 3,500 rpm, the engine is responsive over a wide range of revs. Audi posts a 0-60 best of 5.8 seconds, and a top speed governed at 155 mph. That’s several ticks slower than the lighter S4 sedan, but right in line with many hot roadsters.

In charge of pushing that power to the pavement is Audi’s quattro all wheel drive system. A Torsen torque sensing center differential distributes the payload fore and aft. No driver interaction is required.