No slow-drip of info & photos this time, eh?
German luxury carmaker Audi has a bit of a reputation for drawing out its teaser campaigns for important models. We saw this last with the Q8 SUV and the A8 limousine, while the A6 saloon was given a slightly shorter run of photos and videos. But with the Q3, the company appears to have ditched the norms its set and gone for just one video (so far), with the car due tomorrow (June 25th, in Europe).
The Q3 is one of the most important models for the brand, having racked up strong sales since it was first launched, appealing to young families and empty nesters keen on a trendy, well-built SUV that not only carried a premium badge, but conveyed a sense of Teutonic engineering better than anything else out there. Offered a driving experience about as interesting as watching paint dry, but most buyers couldn’t have cared less.
What’s clear to see from the video is that the new Q3 will adopt an evolutionary approach to its restyle, as is typical of Audi cars. It’ll gain a thicker, more prominent Singleframe grille as first seen in the Q8, while the lights will take a more angular shape and sit above large air intakes in the corners of the front bumper (though admittedly, they appear to be largely fake).
What’s also interesting is that the Q3 appears to have grown a bit more butch in this new generation, with more muscular haunches apparent and highlighted by prominent character lines down the flanks. Further, the door mirrors have been repositioned to sit on the body rather than on the A-pillars, though the rest of the Q3 remains mostly status quo. They’ve also ditched the clamshell boot of the outgoing car, which was just really, really odd.
The new Q3 will ride on the Volkswagen Group’s widely-used MQB platform, which means it’ll be offered with a predictable array of forced induction petrol & diesel mills, Quattro all wheel drive, while hybrid powertrains (conventional & plug-in) will probably join the lineup later on. Be sure to stay tuned to CarShowroom as we bring you more updates as the model breaks cover.
For more information on Audi, check out our Showroom.
