Audi S6 – First Drive: Quick – name the midsize luxury sedan that sells the best in most global markets. Here's a hint – it's from a German manufacturer. BMW 3 Series? Nope. Mercedes-Benz E-Class? Wrong again. It's the Audi A6. If you had no clue, don't beat yourself up too much – you're not alone. Even Johan de Nysschen, Audi of America's executive vice president, admits that his company's cars are "under-recognized and under-appreciated in the U.S." In short, he says, "people in the U.S. need to know us."

To that end, 19 new or redesigned models will be launched in the near future, all intended to nail down the attention, and hopefully the buying dollars of U.S. car shoppers. Set to arrive in November is one of those new rides, the 2007 Audi S6, which uses a mighty 435-horsepower, Lamborghini Gallardo-sourced V10 engine to get noticed on the street, yet steers clear of appearing obnoxious with only subtle design cues, including beefy 19-inch alloys and strategically placed badges. As such, the S6 has a powerful presence, yet not so much that it will make Junior quake in fear upon first sight. No, outlandish and intimidating design are not what mark the S6, rather it's that V10 engine coupled with Audi's respected quattro all-wheel-drive system, not to mention firmer suspension settings and tighter steering, all of which works in concert to greet 60 mph in only 5.1 seconds. That just may be the recipe for getting your name on people's lips, though it's not necessarily what's needed to dethrone perennial favorites like the 500-horsepower BMW M5. Audi responds by saying that, yes, the S6 lacks the Bimmer's raw grunt, but that its sedan is significantly more refined and benefits from four-wheel traction. After a day's drive, we'd concur, and come away with this perspective – if in a steak house you desire meat so rare that you can smell the pasture, best to go with the M5; however, if medium rare is your taste, check out the S6 on the Audi menu.

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