Audi Q3

Infobox Automobile


name = Audi Q3
manufacturer = Audi AG
parent_company = Volkswagen Group
aka =
production = 2010-
assembly = Ingolstadt, Germany
predecessor =
successor =
class = sport utility vehicle
body_style = 3-door Compact SUV
layout = Front engine,
quattro on-demand four wheel drive
platform = Volkswagen Group A5 (PQ35) platform
engine =
transmission =
wheelbase =
length =
width =
height =
weight =
fuel_capacity =
related = Volkswagen Tiguan
designer =

The Audi Q3 is an automobile manufactured by Audi AG of Germany that is expected to debut commercially in 2010. The three-door only crossover will be aimed as more of a lifestyle/sports car, rather than for the family/off-road market its larger Q5 & Q7 siblings aim for. The Q3 will slot above the proposed Audi Q1. The car will use the Volkswagen Group A5 (PQ35) platform of the Volkswagen Golf Mk5, the same as the Volkswagen Tiguan small SUV.

The car 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) twin-clutch gearbox transmission and a Convert|147|kW|hp|0|abbr=on 2.0 FSI turbo engine featured in the current Golf GTI. The car should also feature a Convert|171|kW|hp|0|abbr=on 3.0 turbo-diesel V6 & a Convert|210|kW|hp|0|abbr=on 3.6 FSI V6 for the flagship, the Q3S.

While the car 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. Instead, the car will feature larger wheels and a sports suspension. The car has been approved due to the declining sales large SUV's are currently experiencing, and the public's healthier appetite for smaller crossovers. The company is targeting niche markets to reach its ambitious sales targets, and the Q3 is part of these plans. The production name will undergo change from "Q3" to another name as an agreement with carmaker Infiniti stipulates. Various Audi concept cars have debuted with the name "Cross Coupe" and this name is a possibility for the production Q3.

References

*Stein, Jason, [http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060206/FREE/60203007/1041 "Audi to build Q5 SUV, Q3 may be next"] , "AutoWeek", February 3, 2006 (URL last accessed October 18, 2006).
* [http://www.channel4.com/4car/feature/feature.jsp?id=157 "Future Models (2009)"] , Channel 4 News (UK), July 14, 2006 (URL last accessed October 18, 2006).
* [http://www.automobilemag.com/features/news/0609_2011_audi_q3/ 2011 "Audi Q3"] , "Automobile Magazine", November 1, 2006 (URL last accessed October 18, 2006).

External links

* [http://www.audi.com Audi corporate website]