Large, 23-inch multispoke wheels caught my eye as the beautifully structured 2025 Audi SQ8 rolled into my driveway one morning last week.

I don’t remember, of all those powerful European SUVs and sedans I’ve driven, any having 23-inch wheels – 22s, yes.

Powerful this one is, with a twin-turboed 4.0-liter V-8 engine, 500 horsepower and 568 lb.-ft. of torque, 8-speed automatic transmission, quattro all-wheel drive, allwheel steering and sportadaptive air suspension. The varied terrains of a mountain road were formed for vehicles such as this one.

Interestingly, while Audi’s traditional internal-combustion machine rolls on, the Ingolstadt, Germany, company has discontinued production of its Q8 e-tron all-electric quattro SUV for declining demand.

The surviving SQ8, a two-row model, is powerful in price, too. Its sticker jumps from a base of $97,600 to $130,065, pushed there by such niceties as dual-pane acoustic glass for side windows, front seats with massage, power soft-closing doors, night vision, there is noticeable scarcity of storage space in the center console; cargo area behind rear seat, though, measures 30.5 cubic feet.

Jan and I enjoyed the smooth, quiet, relaxing drive into south Denver last Friday morning to join Bob and Gerri Sweeney for lunch at Rodizio Grill. They’re longtime publishers of The Villager newspaper in the swanky southeast metro area.

Bob and I met 30 years ago at an evening auto event in Golden, where we were paired up for driving several compact pickups. We’ve been friends since.

From a reader Hi Bud: I guess I am a ‘car guy,’ for when I made a list of cars I had over the years, it totaled 86. I am 72, grew up in Littleton and reside in Englewood (same home for the last 49 years).

I drive pretty regularly a 1st series ‘55 Chevy truck I`ve had and redone a couple of times since I towed it home needing rebuilt in 1981. Probably my alltime favorite. I have had several I wished I had kept but... time, space, money and repairs, etc. The 1936 Plymouth I got needed everything as it was a 5-window coupe body with a frame, no drive train, suspension, etc. A 1956 Chevy 2-door was a candidate for drag racing or figure-8 racing at Englewood Speedway and was a body on a frame, the ‘55 chevy truck had been sitting without a motor, brakes, etc. for several years and my 1950 Chevy needed the top end of the motor put back together. I really enjoy reading your articles, thank you for what you do. - Pat P., Englewood.