Audi Q8 55 TFSI

Audi’s flagship SUV has nailed the coupé-SUV form in its first attempt, and has the go to match the show

- Rohit Paradkar

I was waiting at the busy Denver airport for my shuttle to arrive and take me to an off-site parking lot which had an Audi Q8 waiting for me. The parking lot was around 10km away, and is one of many other parking lots and valet facilities that the Denver airport has taken keen interest in, in order to reduce congestion around itself. It’s not as bad as LA, but it can get quite busy. If I was driving a Q8 in that mess, I would have felt guilty for its size, but all I could see going in and out of the airport were massive pickup trucks, so I was good. Finally my shuttle arrived and we took the long drive. It was a hot day and the dry heat made it feel almost as bad as Mumbai. I was dreading that the Q8’s cabin must have turned into an oven by now. Thankfully however, this parking lot turned out to be a supersized hangar and in its shade stood rows of shiny, colourful and swanky cars waiting to be driven out by their business-class flyers.

The Q8 was standing in the company of an X6 and a Corvette. A thought crossed my mind to call the agency and swap the Eight for the ‘Vette, but then the Chevy isn’t coming to India. The Audi Q8 is.

It was a pity that I didn’t have a cameraman with me and that should explain why my story and the photos don’t match as they should. The bigger shame, however, is that I didn’t realise I was only a couple of hours away from the iconic Pikes Peak. Instead I had chosen to drive up the Trail Ridge Road around the Rocky Mountain National Park. It is an iconic road too, and very popular with driving enthusiasts. But I’m miffed that I could have visited Pikes Peak too. After all, the Q8 is the sportier twin of the Q7, made for such roads.