Episode 77: 2019 Audi Q8, 2019 Subaru Ascent, Renault Clio V6, Chevrolet Blazer

What this episode covers

What's it like driving the 2019 Audi Q8 across the driest desert on the planet? Benjamin has the scoop after piloting the Q8 through Chile's Atacama, which NASA uses as a stand-in for the surface of Mars. Closer to home, Sami is impressed by how well Subaru has nailed its second attempt at a seven-seat crossover with the 2019 Subaru Ascent, which he drove along the Cape Breton coast. Finally, Benjamin drives one of this heroes - the bonkers Renault Clio V6 - and Sami is sad about the recent reveal of the Chevrolet Blazer. Links: First Drive: 2019 Audi Q8 passes luxury SUV coupe test in Chilean desert — Following the leader is a time-honored trend in the automotive business, and one that often leads to a profitable payoff at the end of the line. Still, for luxury brands whose entire identity is wrapped up in being able to offer something the other guy doesn't, trend-surfing - no matter how much market share is at stake - can be a delicate enterprise. First Drive: 2019 Audi Q8 (Canadian market) — For those expecting the Q8 to be merely the Q7-plus-one, the all-new SUV “coupe” has several surprises in store. Not the least of these is the decision to truncate the 8 in favour of introducing more muscular proportions as compared to its full-size platform-mate. 2019 Subaru Ascent Review — The all-new Subaru Ascent is finally here and the brand thinks it has really cracked the code when it comes to three-row goodness.

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