Audi, 2012 Audi Q3 Spy Photos
Premium carmakers are filling the compact crossover market in a hurry, fulfilling the desires of a market that wants an alternative to traditional cars without the weight and fuel-economy penalties of larger vehicles and engines. Audi has chosen this April‘s Shanghai auto show for the unveiling of its latest such offering, the Q3.
The Audi Q3 is based on the Volkswagen Tiguan platform, which is related to the VW Golf, Audi A3, and a vast number of other VW Group models. This means the Q3 will have a unibody structure, with a MacPherson-strut suspension up front and a multilink setup at the rear. Like the Tiguan, the Q3 will come standard with front-wheel drive; all-wheel drive will be an option for the uplevel models. There will be no low-range transfer case or anything of the kind. But higher ground clearance than small hatchbacks’ will make sure Q3 drivers can make it through puddles in the shopping-mall parking lot and surmount severe obstacles—such as toys abandoned in the driveway—unscathed.
The Q3 will be powered by forced-induction four-cylinder engines from VW's and Audi's parts bin. That includes 1.4- and 2.0-liter gasoline engines with outputs ranging from around 140 to 200 hp, as well as diesel engines making between 110 and 170 hp. The power will be transmitted through a six-speed manual, or, depending on the engine, a dry seven-speed or a wet six-speed dual-clutch automatic. At 3500 pounds or more for the top-of-the-line versions, the crossover won't be a poster child for light weight.
Possible High-Po Versions
If buyers ask nicely—and frequently—Audi might even add high-powered derivatives in the future. A possible SQ3 model could be powered by the Audi S3's 272-hp, 2.0-liter turbo four, and even an RSQ3 is conceivable. The turbocharged, 340-hp five-cylinder engine out of the TT RS and the RS3 would fit under the hood.
The Q3's exterior styling makes the most of the Tiguan's proportions. It boasts a short, 103-inch wheelbase and pronounced overhangs. The tailgate wraps around the taillights, as on its big brother, the Audi Q7. The Q3's roofline is less station-wagon-like than the Tiguan’s; if you stretch your imagination, you could call it coupe-like (and we’re sure Audi will do just that). There also is a new taillight design, which Audi will offer with regular bulbs or in a full-LED version; the headlights are halogen or xenon, depending on how far you open your wallet. The interior will raise the bar in the segment, which consists mainly of the BMW X1 and a number of non-premium entries.
The Q3 will be built at SEAT's underutilized production site in Martorell, Spain. It will roll off production lines next to an old relative, the last-gen Audi A4, which has been rebadged as the SEAT Exeo. With SEAT's future in limbo, though, a Spanish derivative of the Q3 is not very likely. Instead, the Q3 could soon get another sister model in the Audi Q1, which would be based on the VW Polo/Audi A1 architecture. The likelihood of U.S. sales, however, is even slimmer for the Q1 than it is for the Q3. American availability of the latter is still being debated.
Premium carmakers are filling the compact crossover market in a hurry, fulfilling the desires of a market that wants an alternative to traditional cars without the weight and fuel-economy penalties of larger vehicles and engines. Audi has chosen this April‘s Shanghai auto show for the unveiling of its latest such offering, the Q3.
The Audi Q3 is based on the Volkswagen Tiguan platform, which is related to the VW Golf, Audi A3, and a vast number of other VW Group models. This means the Q3 will have a unibody structure, with a MacPherson-strut suspension up front and a multilink setup at the rear. Like the Tiguan, the Q3 will come standard with front-wheel drive; all-wheel drive will be an option for the uplevel models. There will be no low-range transfer case or anything of the kind. But higher ground clearance than small hatchbacks’ will make sure Q3 drivers can make it through puddles in the shopping-mall parking lot and surmount severe obstacles—such as toys abandoned in the driveway—unscathed.
The Q3 will be powered by forced-induction four-cylinder engines from VW's and Audi's parts bin. That includes 1.4- and 2.0-liter gasoline engines with outputs ranging from around 140 to 200 hp, as well as diesel engines making between 110 and 170 hp. The power will be transmitted through a six-speed manual, or, depending on the engine, a dry seven-speed or a wet six-speed dual-clutch automatic. At 3500 pounds or more for the top-of-the-line versions, the crossover won't be a poster child for light weight.
Possible High-Po Versions
If buyers ask nicely—and frequently—Audi might even add high-powered derivatives in the future. A possible SQ3 model could be powered by the Audi S3's 272-hp, 2.0-liter turbo four, and even an RSQ3 is conceivable. The turbocharged, 340-hp five-cylinder engine out of the TT RS and the RS3 would fit under the hood.
The Q3's exterior styling makes the most of the Tiguan's proportions. It boasts a short, 103-inch wheelbase and pronounced overhangs. The tailgate wraps around the taillights, as on its big brother, the Audi Q7. The Q3's roofline is less station-wagon-like than the Tiguan’s; if you stretch your imagination, you could call it coupe-like (and we’re sure Audi will do just that). There also is a new taillight design, which Audi will offer with regular bulbs or in a full-LED version; the headlights are halogen or xenon, depending on how far you open your wallet. The interior will raise the bar in the segment, which consists mainly of the BMW X1 and a number of non-premium entries.
The Q3 will be built at SEAT's underutilized production site in Martorell, Spain. It will roll off production lines next to an old relative, the last-gen Audi A4, which has been rebadged as the SEAT Exeo. With SEAT's future in limbo, though, a Spanish derivative of the Q3 is not very likely. Instead, the Q3 could soon get another sister model in the Audi Q1, which would be based on the VW Polo/Audi A1 architecture. The likelihood of U.S. sales, however, is even slimmer for the Q1 than it is for the Q3. American availability of the latter is still being debated.
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