Lots of cars are called GTs, but only a rare few fit the definition of a grand tourer -- a two-seat or two-plus-two coupe with a powerful engine, luxurious yet capable suspension and a stunning shape that is almost, but not quite, an all-out sports car.

Bentley Continental GT, Ferrari 612 Scaglietti, Maserati GranTurismo -- they all fit the bill, as do a handful of other modern coupes. Many others carry the GT moniker but are sheep in wolf's clothing.

Not the 2008 Audi A5, and the high-performance S5 version that we tested.

This is a real GT.

Walter da'Silva, the head of Volkswagen Group Design and former designer of Alfa Romeos and Lamborghinis, calls it "the most beautiful car I have ever designed" in a news release. I might disagree, since some of the Alfas are stunning. But in the flesh, the sun rolling over its wide, low shape with fine lines flowing over fender tops and flanks, the Audi is darn close.

We get the tall Audi grille with center bumper bar, flanked by glaring projector beam Bi-Xenon headlights with a line of bright white LED running light dots underneath. The lower air intake incorporates a small vane, while the side vents have chrome-rimmed foglights. The front overhang is short, the gentle fender flares framing 19-inch Dunlop rubber with amazing bladed Y-Design wheels, part of the S-Line sport package.

The roof line is low, the flanks accented by a rolling design line under the belt line that looks a bit Bentley Continental GT. A swooping line edges up the lower section, with a blade along the sill. You get a fastback rear window, high short rear deck and wide wrap-around taillights over a gray lower fascia with twin pipes.

Inside, the chunky three-spoke steering wheel tilts and telescopes, with integrated stereo controls. A cruise control stalk is hidden behind the left spoke, and a rocker switch at the end of the right-side stalk operates the full-color LCD trip computer between the 180-mph speedometer and 8,000-rpm tach, with gas and temperature gauges. The LCD display also offers satellite navigation turns.

Angled toward the driver is a big color LCD Multi-Media Interface screen with satellite navigation, station displays and rear-view camera. Most of the car's main functions are controlled by a twist-and-tap alloy knob in front of the adjustable center armrest, surrounded by menu buttons for navigation, car set-up, AM-FM-Sirius Satellite-six disc CD changer, Bluetooth hands-free telephone link and other systems.

The sport bucket seats were comfortable and supportive, with 10-way power adjustments, lumbar support and thigh support. Two cupholders, a slot for a cell phone or iPod, door map pockets with water bottle slots and a big glove box (with iPod connecter/charger cable and rubberized tray to hold it) complete the accommodations.

All righty, so the A5/S5 seems to fit the visual standards for a GT, along with accommodations. What about the innards that make it go, stop and handle?

The A5 has a new 3.2-liter FSI engine with 265 hp and 243 foot-pounds of torque between 3,000 to 5,000 rpm. The S5 gets a 354-hp V-8.

Shifted through a six-speed Tiptronic S transmission with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, the S5 was plenty powerful, hitting 60 mph in a decent 6.5 seconds in "Sport" mode with great passing power, the quattro all-wheel-drive just grabbing and going. The trip computer showed an average 20 mpg, but a fill-up with premium showed 15 mpg.

With a long 108.3-inch wheelbase and short overhangs, plus rack-and-pinion steering located in front of the front axle and the front axle differential in front of the clutch, the S5 is well-balanced and feels low, wide and stuck to the asphalt. We also like the fact that the quattro all-wheel-drive system has more rear bias than in previous Audis.

The result: A supple ride thanks to five-link suspension with upper and lower wishbones mounted on a subframe for rigidity, and a trapezoidal-link rear suspension. It tackled bumps without any harsh rebound.

The car stuck like glue in turns with a bit of body roll, only a hint of understeer as we powered around curves, and was confidence-inspiring in the rain.

The Audi A5/S5 is a GT I would buy.