Audi Delays Q3's US Debut Due To Regulatory Issue

Derek Kreindler
by Derek Kreindler

The Audi Q3 won’t be coming to the United States for a couple of years, according to Car and Drive r. The issue stems from the Q3’s approach angle, which is not sufficient to be classified as a “light truck” in America. Why does this matter? Well, CAFE of course. Crossovers, as car like as they may be, are more beneficial for auto makers looking to meet CAFE standards, and Audi isn’t going to all this trouble to have the Q3 come over as a car.

Derek Kreindler
Derek Kreindler

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  • Mrhappypants Mrhappypants on Oct 08, 2013

    Doesn't bringing it in as a truck subject it to the chicken tax?

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    • Gettysburg Gettysburg on Oct 08, 2013

      Only if it comes without backseats.

  • Hummer Hummer on Oct 08, 2013

    So there is actually a clause in cafe standards that require trucks to have a certain approach angle? Allow me to suggest they increase that angle to at minimum 25 degree to get actual trucks to perform truck tasks off pavement. For reference a GMT800 SUV had 19.7 degrees A 2014 silverado has 15 degrees An H2 GMT820 has 44 degrees

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    • Hummer Hummer on Oct 08, 2013

      @krhodes1 What immediately came to my mind was the new Sierra I saw yesterday scrape the air dam leaving the parking lot at the mall while watching cars go over it without problem. Also I haven't actually measured or looked it up but I believe the current F150 has an air dam closer to the ground then the hybrid fusion. The ford dealer here has the two side by side and I can't help but notice that it "appears" that way. Again I don't know for sure.

  • Stuntmonkey Stuntmonkey on Oct 08, 2013

    ... and this is why we can't have another A3 5-dr sportback. Thanks CAFE!

    • Pch101 Pch101 on Oct 08, 2013

      Hardly anyone bought the last A3 wagon. Audi's decision to switch to a more popular body style has nothing to do with CAFE.

  • Big Al from Oz Big Al from Oz on Oct 08, 2013

    I do know what I'm about to write will stir the hearts of the TTAC UAW crowd and the 'Amercian Exceptionalists'. But what is a truck in the US? The US appears to have difficulty identifying a truck. Is a truck as described under the Chicken Tax? Is a truck as CAFE/EPA would like you to think a truck is. So how is it that two US federally controlled functions can't come to an agreement on what a truck is? Is there some kind of communication deficiency between government bodies in the US? Is a truck a PT Cruiser? You know the PT Cruiser FE figures are used in conjunction with pickups to give the Corporate Average Fuel Economy for pickups. It was used to reduce the average FE figures for pickups. So then if the PT Cruiser is a truck why is it that vehicles that the EPA deem as trucks attract the Chicken Tax? Why doesn't the US come up with a better system? If the US really wants to reduce energy consumption and emissions there are much better and cheaper models to use. These models would also be much more effective and save the tax payers literally billions of dollars that the US can't afford since it's totally reliant on borrowings to exist at the moment. This whole farcical system of barriers, tariffs, etc must be dismantled to save the US consumer billions of dollars. Why not just have no rules other than emission rules across the board for all vehicles. One set of rules. Why doesn't the world do this. If you want to reduce fuel consumption then use tax on fuel. So, heavy fuel usage will be discouraged. Use tax concession after the fact, so if you buy a pickup for work you can then claim the money. If you buy the pickup for personal use you don't get those benefits of a business. Leave the emissions regulations in place so everyone doesn't end up driving the modern equivalent of a Trabant. If the government doesn't want imports from a particular country, then let it be a political and diplomatic reason. Maybe a better designed model would be better. But what will all of those public/civil servants do?

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    • Pch101 Pch101 on Oct 09, 2013

      @thelaine Al is convinced that Holden would be a success story if it wasn't for US regulations. Apparently, the world has an immense appetite for Australian cars. The world just doesn't know it yet.

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