AUDI A8 L

We waft around the capital city in Audi’s flagship saloon, which is all-new for 2020 and looks the part

- ROHIT PARADKAR

On the eve of the Auto Expo, the Indian arm of the Volkswagen Group, which is now under Skoda’s leadership, conducted the ‘Group Night’. It is a leaf out of VW’s European operations and is a glamorous event that happens on the eve of the Frankfurt Motor Show, showcasing the best new wares from each of the group’s illustrious brands. The idea is to let the media spend more quality time with the all-new offerings from the Group, before the madness of the exhibitions begin the next day. VW’s events team at the Group Night also serves the best Currywurst I have ever tasted. Sadly, the Indian adaptation of the event didn’t have it on the food menu. Neither was the car menu as exhaustive as a typical Group Night. Using such a gathering then, wasn’t the most glamorous launch pad for a car as swanky and advanced as the new A8 L. On the flip side, the launch of the new A8 L was a necessity to add sheen to the Night and to showcase the Group’s luxury prowess.

I have seen this car before – as far back as 2018, when we drove it in Valencia. And yet, it was refreshing to see this five-meter long limo roll gracefully onto the stage. For our test, I took delivery of that very car, the very next morning – still smelling of fresh polish and new leather. The shiny grey paintwork blurred into Delhi’s foggy morning, but the wafer-thin OLEDs in the tail and the matrix laser lights beaming into the fog created the right enigma for the onlookers. Delhi isn’t new to lux limos and you are likely to spot everything from A6s to Bentleys on a regular workday. And yet, the A8 L managed to turn heads, despite the elusive shade of grey I was driving. Apart from the usual white and black, Audi offers 52 more exterior shades to choose from, which ensures further exclusivity. I would go with an Impala Beige from the brochure or bespoke bottle green, and specify the trimmings in a gloss black.