India, Jan. 3 -- The first two decades of the 21st century have been kind to Dubai. From a relatively sleepy little town, it is now the symbol of the modern metropolis, and let alone its airport, which is now the greatest international hub in the world. Dubai boasts some of the most stunning architectural marvels in the world, including the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building on the planet. It was in the shadow of this spire that we began our drive of Audi's latest offering, the new Q8. And we took it to the desert. In fact, there isn't much desert near the city anymore and the Dubai Desert Conservation Area is a good 90 minutes of fast driving outside the city.

But now, the car. First things first, dispel any notion that the Q8 is larger...