Indian Autos blog

Audi has gone concept crazy with the Q3. First we saw the Q3 Vail concept at the Detroit Motorshow, then came the Q3 RS concept at the Beijing Motorshow, now it is time for the Audi Q3 Red track to take center stage.

Especially designed for the annual Wörthersee Tour – a youth-oriented, action/lifestyle/sport oriented spring festival – the Audi Q3 Red Track is your companion for the snow slopes of the Alps. Dressed in an Energy Red attire, the Red Track concept features:

You can tell Audi India that there’s no need to strip tease the Q3 as they may have forgotten that Bollywood bombshell Katrina Kaif’s already unveiled the car at the Delhi Auto Expo in January. You may want to remind them that the Q3′s now available all over the world.

Audi India can react that perhaps due to the positioning the product that differs greatly in India, a teaser campaign is on. The Audi Q3 is targeted at the Indian youth and the brand is scouting for young ambassadors who have about 25-30 lakhs to spend on a status car.

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The Ingolstadt giant may have been a late entrant to the Indian Automotive scene but it is letting no stones unturned to make its way to the top. Having noticed that the current leader is moping in volumes with its entry level X1, Audi plans to launch their own rival –the Q3 in this segment.

Tomorrow, Audi India will showcase this vehicle at the Auto Expo. The launch is expected to unfold in the next 3-4 months.

The Q3 will be launched at the Expo in two engine variants – a highly refined 2-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged petrol unit that pumps out 214 PS and a 2-litre, 179 PS TDI diesel mill. Giving company to the Q3 will be the S6 sedan which is a sportier iteration of the A6. Powered by a 4-litre, 420 PS engine, the S6 can propel the sedan from 0-60 kmph in 4.8 seconds.

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Here’s our next W201 – the Audi Q3 seen testing yet again. The difference is Audi’s not bothered about aficionados clicking away at their mules. For Audi India camouflage is a term found in a 3rd grader’s Zoology text book.

Our reader Aditya Prakash who is by far the biggest Audi fan in India (and runs a Facebook page CarsIndia) has sent us another catch wearing the four rings. The Audi Q3 continues testing in Mumbai with a possible unveiling at Auto Expo next year.

The Q3 shares its foundation with the Volkswagen Tiguan and as the latter is not available in India, the VW Group need not follow the brand pattern and position the Audi offering at a premium.

So Audi India should start the Q3 under 25 lakh rupees and set the segment ablaze.

Under the hood Audi will use the 2L diesel from the Passat/Jetta/Laura/A4 and pair it to a 6-speed manual and 7-speed automatic gearbox. Unlike the X1 which is purely a 2WD crossover, the Q3 might come with Audi’s Quattro (AWD) system. We expect Audi to bring the Q3 to the market by May 2012.

Exotic car photographer and founder of Supercars & Exotics In India Suraj Arumugam has posted high quality spy shots of the new Audi Q3 in Mumbai. Last week IndianAutosBlog.com brought readers two sets of images (Motorbeam’s pics and OnCars’ pics) of the same vehicle testing in Mumbai. It even prompted our friends at Motoroids.com to speculate if an early launch is on the cards.

Audi has gone on record that an early 2012 launch is their plan, but seeing the unshakable BMW X1 having the entire segment to itself could have triggered the panic button at the Audi India office.

What’s expected under the hood of Audi Q3?

The 2.0-liter TDI from the VW Jetta/Passat, Skoda Laura/Superb will sit under the Q3′s hood sending at least 140PS to the rear wheels. This should be paired to a 7-speed DSG. The 2.0-liter TFSI is the engine for the petrol lover sending not less than 170PS to the rear wheels. Audi hasn’t sold a car under 30 lakh rupees in India, but that shouldn’t stop them from pricing the Q3 at 30 lakh rupees.

It is a good idea for Audi to have a special screening of the Q3 before the Auto Expo as chances are it might get lost in the crowd. Unless Audi’s planning a (shock) price announcement at the Auto Expo, the Q3 will not draw the eyeballs it will on other days.

Agree with me?

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Our friends at MotorBeam.com have caught the Audi Q3 on test in Mumbai. Audi India has confirmed that it will launch the junior crossover during in early 2012 and could bring it to the Auto Expo as well. Yesterday we showed you one set of spy shots, thanks to an alert OnCars reader and today we have the same car spied by Motorbeam.

Sitting on the Volkswagen Group A5 (PQ35) platform, the Q3 us Audi’s version of the Volkswagen Tiguan. Motorbeam writes initially it will be offered in front wheel drive followed by a 4WD version. The two-liter TDI diesel engine that tugs many vehicles in the VW Group will be present on the Q3 as well.

Can Audi price the Q3 from 25 lakh rupees?

Our friends over at OnCars.in have carried pictures of the Audi Q3 testing in Mumbai. Their reader Devang Panchamatiya took these images in city traffic. The powertrain of top priority is the 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel mill producing 140bhp mated to a DSG.

This is the same engine producing 170bhp on the new Passat and is expected to feature on the new Jetta later this month. Audi will position the Q3 to take on the likes of the BMW X1, Honda CR-V and Renault Koleos. Audi has confirmed the Q3 will come in early 2012. Expect it to be present during the Auto Expo.

Will you buy the Audi Q3 over a BMW X1?

The solo run of the BMW X1 in its segment is about to end very soon. Audi rival is ready to take on the baby crossover from BMW head on. Audi recently launched the A7 and the RS5 in the Indian Market.

Audi executive Michael Perschke -

We are planning to launch the A6 in August followed by the Q3 early next year

This whole ‘launch after launch’ from Audi is an effort to accomplish the huge sales target that the company has set for itself. The company plans to sell 4,800-5,000 units in 2011.

The Audi Q3 is expected in a long list of engines will include a 147kW 2.0L TFSI engine, a 171kW 3.0L turbodiesel V6 and a 210kW 3.6L FSI V6 in the diesel category. The engine to watch out for if you are on a budget is the VW Group’ 2.0-liter diesel engine featured on the Passat, Laura and Jetta.

The key success factor for this baby SUV would be the pricing. Audi needs to have an entry level variant to compete with the BMW X1 in a price bracket of 22-23 lakh rupees.

The rival from Mercedes – the GLC is still undergoing testing and will be ready only by 2014.