THE POWER OF EIGHT

Audi’s flagship sedan and SUVs come together in India for the first time, to explore the significance behind the numeral in their names

- AATISH MISHRA

“I’M TAKING THE RS Q8”

Of course the Ed is taking the RS Q8. He’s been deprived of fast cars for so long that the faintest whiff of a V8 has him salivating. Doesn’t matter, because I had my eyes set on something else. The Audi A8. Forget the fact that it’s a proper looker, and can hold its own against these fierce-looking SUVs beside it. The A8 is the pinnacle of luxury from Audi, and I was in the mood to indulge myself. evo India is all about the Thrill of Driving, and normal circumstances dictate we begin our reviews from the hot seat. Behind the wheel, chasing another car up a twisty road, or simply chasing happiness. But that morning, happiness was a little further behind the steering wheel than usual. So I toss the keys to the wide-eyed intern, kick my feet up and get comfortable in the back!

The OG

The origins of the Audi A8 go back to the early ‘90s. The first-generation A8 was showcased at the Geneva Motor Show in February 1994. To give you context of how long ago that was, I was born a month later. And in the years since, I grew hair and lost it but the A8 has remained a technological