By Edward Niedermeyer
May 14, 2008 -
As body-on-frame SUV sales crater, a number of manufacturers are prepping a new generation of lighter, compact soft-roaders. One such cute ute is Audi's Q3, based on the A3 platform and closely related to VW's Tiguan. Motor Authority has a rendered preview, showing off styling cues from the recently debuted Cross Coupe concept. Expect Ingolstadt's standard 2.0-liter TFSI four-banger, the 3.0 diesel V6 or the 3.6 FSI V6 to motivate the three and five-door Q3s. With Toyota's Urban Cruiser, Ford's Kuga, Landies LRX and BMW's X1 all coming online soon, the Q3 will have plenty of competition when it debuts in July of 2009. An official concept will hit the Auto Show circuit sometime before this time next year. While a higher roofline should help alleviate the A3's cramped cabin, the sharply-falling rear C-pillar won't win any friends amongst those relegated to the Audi's backseats. Let's also hope Audi designers do something about the rendering's weird flank lines, which have a confused, Bangle-on-PCP feel– especially compared to the clean lines of the A3.
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May 14th, 2008 at 11:55 am
Let’s also hope Audi designers do something about the rendering’s weird flank lines, which have a confused, Bangle-on-PCP feel– especially compared to the clean lines of the A3.
Word.
Audi produces the most handsome wagons. Period
It also produces the most ugly SUVs.
Bottom line? Audi should stick with wagons and spend some money on marketing to make them cool again, instead of coming up with those horrible SUVs (regardless of how they’re actually called).
May 14th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
akm:
well put.
however, given market trends, they can make 2-3k more profit/vehicle selling a ‘tall wagon’ than a regular height wagon…
May 14th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
i second (third?) the above comments. audi had a terrific raised wagon (can’t remember what they called it) but it was a direct competitor with the raised volvo wagon (XC70?). anyway, these raised wagons have the elevated sitting position, all wheel drive, and butch attitude of the SUVs without the downside of weight, sucky gas mileage, etc. it’s basically the Subaru formula but a little bigger and fancier. works for me.
May 14th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
Phil, might that be the Allroad you’re thinking of?
This Q3 is an utter waste of Audi’s time and money. The A3 is already a great little wagon, and this thing just adds weight and height. And if you wanted something a bit bigger than the A3, there’s already the A4 Avant.
Looks like Audi is stealing plays from the GM playbook under the section called “Competing with Yourself.”
May 15th, 2008 at 4:58 am
I’m confused - if it’s based on the A3’s platform it can’t physically accept the 3.0 diesel. It’s a 60-degree V6- doesn’t fit in that platform.
May 15th, 2008 at 5:28 am
Seems like a 95% Q5 to me.
Especially if they are just going to sell it with the same engines the Q5 is available with like you say they will.
The Q5 is based on the Tiguan, so I find this a little hard to believe.
Maybe if they make just a 3-door version, but that would be a very small niche they’re catering to.