Alongside the crowd-pleasing Shooting Brake concept, Audi whipped the covers off a surprising new range-topper simply badged the S8 at the Tokyo Show. Look a little closer though and you'll see another set of subtle badges with the letters V10 on them. Yes, this sober-suited executive express actually packs a direct injection 5.2-litre engine with 10 cylinders, based loosely on the unit found in the Lamborghini Gallardo.

The headline figures are 450bhp, 398lb.ft of torque and 0-62mph in 5.1 seconds. Top speed is limited to 155mph, and the V10 S8 is likely to cost up to £70,000 in the UK. We will publish more details closer to the on sale date of summer 2006.

Shane O' Donoghue - 24 Oct 2005