Boston.com's view

MONTREAL — There are lines that are never crossed, lines that are blurred, and lines that snap like a string pulled too taut.

Snap best describes what has happened with today’s test cars, the 2007 Audi S8, because of its connection with the Lamborghini Gallardo. In the world of performance cars, snap is a good thing.

Last time I drove a Gallardo I was surprised not by the expected power and handling, which were superb, but by the center stack of controls — climate, audio, information. It was straight out of the Audi parts bin, and likely a cost-saving measure by the German company, which has owned Lamborghini since 1998.

But what has Lamborghini done for the Audi line? How about a V-10 engine derived from the same power plant that propels the Gallardo, plopped into the S6 and S8 models, transforming already fast, roomy sedans into virtual lightning bolts of comfortable accommodation?

That’s right, the S8, whose past model managed “only” 360 horsepower in a world of luxury sedans that have crept as high as 600, now sports 450 horsepower and nearly 400 lb.-ft. of torque. You could tow a multi horse trailer with this rig, and wouldn’t that be an eye-opener? Or, since it’s all-wheel drive, how about plowing snow? It’s got that much push and pull.

We drove the S8 through the beautiful city of Montreal, out the expressway north and into the countryside, where it rustled brilliantly colored fall leaves clinging to trees along rural roads.

The S8 comes with a six-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic manual mode. It handles all the power seamlessly and shifting it on your own is far more pleasurable than letting the car make decisions.

It could be held in a low gear, spooled out, and then carve swiftly and surely through the tightest of corners. On the highway, it could have been driven far faster than any local law would allow, giving us the ability to pass with ease, merge into traffic with quick, deft maneuvers, and run solid and silent straight ahead.

In corners, its suspension, which features adjustable air “springs,” made a large car feel small in a good, controlled way. And its all-wheel-drive system helped it hold traction on wet leaves, sand-coated roads, and even in hard cornering.

Outside, any efforts to set the S8 aside from its tamer sibling is mostly subtle. Look for bigger air scoops beneath the front bumper and an almost unnoticed rear spoiler. Four big exhaust pipes are more obvious giveaways, as are the standard 20-inch wheels. You are not likely to notice, unless they are parked side-by-side, that it sits almost an inch lower than the A8.

With so much space in its rich leather-swathed interior, it was amazing to look around at the expanse yet feel a steering wheel/weight balance response that was more akin to a sports car in its directness if not solid feel. The interior is so spacious that five large adults could cruise comfortably across the country without getting on each others’ nerves.

Since this was a preview of the car, I only got to spend a day in it. I cannot wait to try it on a snowy New England day. Just think: All that power and control up against slippery, hilly, New England back roads.

Audi is building what may be the most complete lineup of luxury vehicles, from its A3 series all the way to this magnificent monster. They all feature superb handling, and wonderfully stitched and designed interiors. For a surprise, check out the A3 and A3 S-Line — priced in the high-20s to mid-30s.

And if they can add more by grabbing DNA and parts from the Lamborghini bin, well, as I like to say, tutto per il meglio — all for the best.

Royal Ford can be reached at ford@globe.com.