The Audi S7 Sportback really is as good as it gets.

With the perfect combination of sportiness and luxury, this very posh hatchback uses the same engine as the S6 Avant – the new 4.0 TFSI with 420PS and 550Nm of torque.

And yes, it’s fast, but in a refined and somewhat aristocratic way rather than a thrill-seeking way, although it did take my breath away at times.

The prestigious S7 is the flagship version of the five-door executive coupe – the Audi A7 Sportback.

As you would expect, it’s a really smooth drive and you’ll simply glide along, largely thanks to the car’s adaptive air suspension as part of the Audi drive select system.

Even gear changes were almost unnoticeable in the seven-speed automatic, and there’s loads of grip and excellent handling from the quattro four-wheel drive system. It’s beautifully quiet as well, even at speed.

However, you don’t have this kind of driving pleasure without paying the price. Insurance costs are sky high, and although the quoted combined fuel figure is just over 29mpg I achieved around 25mpg, although I did test it to the max – it’s very difficult to drive economically in a car like this and nor would you want to. This is a racehorse that wants to run.

Its interior oozes pure quality too. Once you’re comfortably settled into the leather seats, the latest generation MMI interface and slick graphics are illustrated on a large eight-inch screen, which electronically raises from the dashboard when you start-up.

The Multimedia Interface has two processors, a DVD drive and 60GB hard drive for storing music and contacts, all of which can be controlled by your voice.

It also has the new Audi Online Traffic Information system providing TomTom-grade sat-nav.

There is 535 litres of boot space, rising to 1,390 litres when you drop the split-folding rear seats.

Safety measures include stability management to prevent skidding; front, side and curtain airbags and optional radar-based automatic and progressive braking if an imminent collision is detected. There is also a useful system that warns you if you’re drifting out of lane and audio and flashing wing-mirror lights when another car is in your blind-spot.

Clearly this car gets the thumbs up from me. All I need now is a lottery win.

Fact File:
Car: Audi S7 Sportback 4.0 TFSi
Price: £61,065
Top speed: 155mph (limited)
0-62mph: 4.7 seconds
Fuel: 29.4mpg (combined)
C02 emissions: 225g/km