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Preview: 2010 Audi Q3 SUV

Posted Tue May 13 2008 5:52 PM by Siddharth Raja

In response to shrinking sales of large SUVs in most parts of the world carmakers are prepping a new generation of compact softroaders aimed at both the affordable and premium sectors of the market. We’ve already seen Ford release the new Kuga and Toyota add the Urban Cruiser, and soon Audi will enter the burgeoning market with a new Q-car positioned below the recently revealed Q5.

The Q3 will be based on Audi’s Cross Coupe concept car that was showcased at April’s Shanghai Auto Show and these renderings show designers will likely stick with the lines of the original show car.

Both three-door and five-door variants are expected, and since it will almost certainly be based on the same PW35 platform as the Audi A3 hatch, it will likely share internals with it as well. Engines will include a 147kW 2.0-litre TFSI engine, a 171kW 3.0-litre turbodiesel V6 and a 210kW 3.6-litre FSI V6.

BMW is also working on a similarly-sized vehicle to be named the X1 and Land Rover is expected to launch its own version in the form the stylish LRX. Mercedes’ GLK is a bit larger, more in line with BMW’s X3, but all are close enough in size and specification to be considered competition for one another.

According to an internal Audi document leaked last December, the Q3 is due for a July 2009 global debut, which would mean a concept should be arriving either late this year or early in 2009.

2010 Audi Q3 SUV rendering

2009 Audi Q5 S-Line

2009 Audi Q5

story Tags:

• Audi
• Spy shots
• SUVs

Reader Comments

• Tue May 13 2008 7:43 PM

  Roy says

  I wonder if it will be as bad as the BMW X3. In fact, I seem to recall that Audi used to sell an A4 or A6 Allroads (or something like that), which had improved ground clearance, 4WD and an even larger price tag. Naturally it was discontinued due to poor sales.

• Tue May 13 2008 10:30 PM

  Wizards Lore says

  as long as they drop the RS4 lump in...im there !! :-)

• Wed May 14 2008 1:07 PM

  chris says

  What the heck ever happened to "hatch backs"? ITS A LIFTED GOLF. even has the same engines. UGH.

• Wed May 14 2008 7:07 PM

  Wizards Lore says

  true Chris...but the Golf Plus never did the sales that i t was hoped it would...and people are still of the belief that they are safer in a raised 4x4...and of course there is the maybe that they will go off road, although most of the soft roaders will fall over off road !