AUDI is celebrating 30 years of its ground-breaking quattro four-wheel-drive high-performance sporting line-up with the introduction of its latest offering the Audi RS7 Sportback.

It's an absolute stunner in style and performance and there's not much around that will match it for sheer driving fun and quality.

The coupe-like RS7 is powered by the same twin-turbo 560bhp V8 engine which was recently introduced in the RS6 Avant and packs the same extraordinary punch.

How's this for performance. Top speed is a limited 155mph and it can hit 62mph in just 3.9 seconds.

And if you want more power you can opt for a Dynamic package which will increase its speed to 174mph. If that's still not sufficient you can achieve 189mph with the Dynamic plus package.

CO2 emissions are 229g/km.

Okay, that's going to land you with points on your licence if you're not careful, but if you're ever in Germany, where I tested it, you can let it fly.

The new RS7 is lighter, thanks to the use of more aluminium in its construction and this, combined with cylinder-on-demand technology, means you can get a claimed 28mpg which is exceptional for a high performance executive motor.

When the engine is under light loads it runs as a four-cylinder until you put the foot down.

Gearing is through Audi's eight-speed tiptronic automatic transmission which is slick and smooth and there is an option to use the paddle shift behind the multi-function steering wheel.

Changes are achieved in milli-seconds and must be one of the smoothest on offer.

The acceleration is astonishing. Safe overtaking is what the RS7 Sportback offers in spades and with the tremendous power on offer I did find just a touch of torque steer when booting it from standstill.

The cars we drove were fitted with Dynamic Ride Control, which made the ride a bit on the hard side. UK versions will come with air suspension as standard which will help to iron out some of the rough surfaces which plague our roads.

The RS7 rides on 20-inch wheels and the quattro system feeds 60 per cent of power to the rear but cleverly adjusts power to whichever wheel needs more grip.

It's also fitted with Audi's drive select system which enables the driver to choose between comfort or dynamic modes or an automatic setting in which sensors adjust the set up based on your driving style, speed and the road surface conditions.

Braking on such a beast needs to be good and the RS7 comes with 390 millimetre vented discs which provide secure stopping power.

I must mention the sound that this latest high performance Audi emits. It crackles and pops when you lift off at speed and under acceleration throws out a throaty roar which will turn heads.

Inside, the RS7 sportback is up to Audi's high standard of fit and finish.

It features quality sports seats with the RS logo imprinted on the back, good headroom in the rear despite the sloping roof design and a boot which can take a goodly amount of gear with a flat floor for easy loading.

The instrumentation is similar to the standard A7 and there's an array of goodies including sat nav, DAB radio, MP3, Bluetooth connectivity and a head-up display.

Standard equipment also includes a stop/start system, LED headlights, cruise control, automatic air conditioning, adjustable steering wheel, parking system, power operated tailgate, heated seats with driver memory, a seven-in display screen, flat-bottomed steering wheel with shift paddles, tyre-pressure warning and BOSE sound system.

So, how much for this stunning executive sportster? It will be priced at from £88,495 when it goes on sale in the UK around the end of October.

That's a lot of dosh, but it's up there with the best of the high-end performance motors from the likes of BMW and Mercedes - and at its most potent is as quick as a Ferrari.