It has become quite the trend to associate menacing looking cars to Darth Vader, but I can't blame enthusiasts for doing it so often given the massive success of the Star Wars franchise. It's been going on for a long time too, having started in 1987, when Car and Driver covered the GNX model's introduction with the headline "Lord Vader, your car is ready."

We've also made a few automotive suggestions to the Dark Lord in our very own "What Would Darth Vader Drive?" article, but I must get back to the topic after seeing the new cars at the Detroit Auto Show. And it's all because of the Audi Q8 Concept.

Is it just me or does the SUV's front fascia look as if Darth Vader himself created it? Just look at that wide and massive grille and the six vertical slats. The angled headlamps add to the Vader-inspired appearance too and I'm sure that a black body finish and matte-black instead of chrome would turn it into Anakin Skywalker's favorite grocery getter.

But here's the issue. It's not black. And this is what tells me that Audi didn't hire Darth Vader as chief of its design department. Jokes aside, the Q8 Concept looks stunning in blue as well and I'm sure it would turn heads in just about any color. Here's to hoping that Audi will transfer as many details as possible onto the production model!

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