Simply due to their size and presence, not to mention the tastes of their buyers, luxury flagships don't need to be flashy. In regular A8 guise, Audi's largest sedan is best described as understated almost to a fault when compared with the svelte new Mercedes-Benz S-Class or the BMW 7 Series that, despite complaints about its styling, sells quite well. Obviously, pumping things up a bit with a few select visual enhancements couldn't hurt, and that's just what the 2007 S8 does.

Outside, S8 and V10 nomenclature can be seen on the fenders, grille, trunk lid, and brake calipers, while a revised fascia gives the car a more aggressive face. The side profile is differentiated by alloy mirror housings, additional chrome accents on the inner grille, 14-spoke 20-inch alloy wheels, and if the driver has been playing with the suspension settings, an especially keen observer may notice a ride height that sits 20 mm lower than the A8. Similar attention to detail is required to notice four chrome tailpipes rather than the normal two.

It's almost as hard to distinguish the S8's interior from that of the A8. Hints that you're looking at the sport model include a three-spoke, thickly-padded steering wheel and redesigned gauges, both featuring the S8 logo. Gray birch or optional carbon fiber inlays run the length of the doors and width of the dash; real alloy panels reside just below. Collectively, it makes for a beautiful interior, one made all the better when dressed up with the full leather package. But what might really catch your eyes are the tweeters that pop out of the forward corners of the dash. They're part of the 1,100-watt Bang & Olufsen sound system that is also available on the A8.

In addition to being attractive, the S8's interior is designed for optimum usability. The leather-wrapped, power tilt and telescoping steering wheel allows for custom placement, while forward of the properly-positioned shifter reside clearly-marked buttons for the climate control system. Radio controls are largely confined to dials on the steering wheel spokes and the Multi-Media Interface (MMI) center dial, packages oft-used items together for simplified use. Compared to its competitors, Audi's MMI setup is relatively easy to operate, though some of us would still prefer to drop this new level of automotive bureaucracy in favor of simple, clear buttons only.