The Audi Q3 arrived in 2011 and is due for a major revamp next year. A 2018 Audi Q3 test mule was recently spied on test, courtesy Quattroruote. The spy shots have revealed some changes due with the lifecycle makeover.
The next-gen Audi Q3 looks more youthful and expressive with a more aggressive design. The influence from recently redesigned Audi models like the Audi Q5 and Audi A8 is clear. The wider Singleframe grille with vertical struts flanked by sharper headlamps and the redesigned air inlets remind of the Audi Q8 concept. On the sides, the mirrors are reshaped but otherwise things look mostly unchanged.
The Audi Q3 is 4,388 mm long, 1,831 mm wide and 1,608 mm tall. With the redesign, the BMW X1 rival will likely grow in size to make a safe space for the Audi Q2. On the inside, the compact SUV will advance in tech incorporating Audi virtual cockpit and other latest systems the Volkswagen Group has to offer, including the latest Audi MMI infotainment unit with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Switching from the PQ35 platform to the MQB platform, the Audi Q3 will lose up to 50 kilos. Audi will offer an array of engine options in the all-new Q3, including a new 1.5-litre petrol unit replacing the older 1.4-litre petrol unit, as well as 2.0-litre petrol and 2.0-litre diesel units. S and RS variants will return, sporting individually tuned iterations of the company's new 2.5-litre five-cylinder petrol engine. Base engine models will have front-wheel drive drivetrain layout, while higher-end models will get the quattro all-wheel drive system. Transmission choices should include 6-speed manual and 7-speed automatic dual-clutch automatic.
Also See: Audi Q8 spied testing with production-spec exterior
The next-gen Audi Q3 range will include a plug-in hybrid variant. Its powertrain will include a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor generating a net output of more than 200 bhp. The eco-friendly variant will have a zero-emissions driving range of 31 miles (49.89 km). A pure electric variant is also in the works, for the electric-offensive Chinese market.
In Europe, the Audi Q3 is currently built in Martorell, Spain. Production of the next-gen Audi Q3, however, will take place in Gyor, Hungary. Audi has begun working on a new body shop to make the Q3 there.
[Image Source: Quattroruoute]
