| Manufacturer | Audi AG |
|---|---|
| Production | June 2011 - |
| Assembly | Martorell, Spain |
| Class | sport utility vehicle |
| Body style | 5-door Compact SUV[1] |
| Layout | Front engine, quattro on-demand four wheel drive |
| Platform | Volkswagen Group A5 (PQ35) platform |
| Engine | 2.0L TFSI I4 2.0L TDI diesel I4 |
| Transmission | 6-speed Manual 7-speed S Tronic |
| Length | 4,390 mm (172.8 in) |
| Width | 1,830 mm (72.0 in) |
| Height | 1,600 mm (63.0 in) |
| Related | Volkswagen Tiguan SEAT Tribu |
The Audi Q3 is a five-door compact coupe crossover by Audi that is expected to debut commercially in 2011. The car will use the Volkswagen Group A5 (PQ35) platform of the Volkswagen Golf Mk5, the same as the Volkswagen Tiguan/SEAT Tribu small SUVs. The Q3 will slot above the proposed Audi Q1 mini crossover. Compared to the mid-luxury compact Q5 and full-size Q7 which are positioned more for family practicality and off-road performance, the Q3 will be aimed as more of a lifestyle/sports automobile. It will be launched in the same model year as the BMW X1, a similar competitor.
The Q3 will combine a transverse engine layout with flexible steering and suspension offers. The Q3 will borrow many Golf Mk5, or possibly Golf Mk6, components, such as a Direct-Shift Gearbox (DSG) dual clutch transmission and a 155 kW (208 hp) 2.0 FSI turbo engine featured in the current Golf GTI. The vehicle should also feature a 171 kW (229 hp) 3.0 turbo-diesel V6 & a 210 kW (282 hp) 3.6 FSI V6 for the flagship, the Q3S. While the Q3S should be available in both front-wheel drive (FWD), and quattro "on-demand" four-wheel drive variants, there will be no height-adjustable suspension, lockable differentials or low-range gearing, just larger wheels and a sports suspension.
The Q3 was designed due to declining sales of large SUVs, as well as growing demand for crossovers, particularly in Canada and the United States where station wagons are unpopular. The company is targeting niche markets to reach its ambitious sales targets, and the Q3 is part of these plans. The final production name will undergo change from "Q3" to another name due to an agreement with Nissan (through their luxury marque Infiniti) which places restrictions on Audi's use of the "Q" nameplate. Various Audi concept cars have debuted with the name "Cross Coupe" and this name is a possibility for the production Q3.
Contents |
| Petrol engines | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Year | Engine type | Power, torque@rpm |
| 2.0 TFSI | 2011- | 1,984 cc (1.984 L; 121.1 cu in) I4 turbo | 170 PS (125 kW; 168 hp)@4300-6200, 280 N·m (207 ft·lbf)@1700–4200 |
| 2.0 TFSI | 2011- | 1,984 cc (1.984 L; 121.1 cu in) I4 turbo | 211 PS (155 kW; 208 hp)@5000-6200, 300 N·m (221 ft·lbf)@1800–4900 |
| Diesel engines | |||
| Model | Year | Engine type | Power, torque@rpm |
| 2.0 TDI | 2011- | 1,968 cc (1.968 L; 120.1 cu in) I4 turbo common rail | 140 PS (103 kW; 138 hp)@4200, 320 N·m (236 ft·lbf)@1750–2500 |
| 2.0 TDI | 2011- | 1,968 cc (1.968 L; 120.1 cu in) I4 turbo common rail | 177 PS (130 kW; 175 hp)@4200, 380 N·m (280 ft·lbf)@1750–2500 |
Audi Q3 is a compact SUV that first appeared worldwide in April 2011. It is the smallest SUV by Audi and is hoped to be followed by a sibling Audi Q1 in the coming years.[2] Audi is producing the Q3 in Martorell (near Barcelona, Spain), a plant founded in 1993 and owned by SEAT, Volkswagen Group's Spanish subsidiary [3][4][5] which in 1998 had been awarded as the "Best Factory of the VW Group in the first quarter".[6] The first cars rolled out of the production lines in June 2011 [7] while the decision to produce the Q3 to this plant shall give Audi the ability to produce around 100,000 units per year, with the cost of moving there for production rising to approximately €300 million.[8]
By choosing the Martorell factory Audi has created 700 new jobs there. Wolfram Thomas, a SEAT Board Member for Production, said that “the Q3 represents the SEAT employees’ excellent preparation and premium-carmaking skills.” Frank Derves of Audi made similar remarks: “The Martorell factory is an extremely productive facility with a highly skilled workforce, and one that meets the exacting quality standards of our brand. The Q3 definitely gets the Audi seal of approval.”[9]
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