Audi are to release a new mini-4x4 next week at the 2011 Shanghai Motor Show.
The new Audi Q3 which will get its first showing at the Shanghai Motor Show, which runs from April 21-28, has been developed to provide buyers with a compact yet rugged 4x4, that will be just as well suited to city driving as it is for scaling steep hills or crossing continents.
The new car will be the smallest model in Audi's Q-series of cars, and unlike other models the new Q3 range will include a front-wheel-drive car in addition to the Quattro-equipped four-wheel-drive which dominates the range. This front-wheel-drive car is built with a strong emphasis on fuel efficiency, meaning that its 2.0-litre TDI 142bhp engine with manual transmission will come in a car that weighs less than 1,500kg and is able to deliver an impressive 54mpg.
Efficiency has also been a priority across the rest of the range. Built from lightweight aluminium and high-tech steel, and with a streamlined body, the Q3 has a low drag coefficient of 0.32. Other features designed to improve efficiency include a start-stop engine system, energy recuperation, electromechanical power steering rather than hydraulics, and low rolling resistance tyres. Buyers who choose the Audi's Drive Select Adaptive Dynamics system option also benefit from an improvement in efficiency thanks to an improved S tronic twin clutch which is able to disengage every time the throttle pedal is released, reducing the power draw on the engine.
There will be a total of three engines available for the Q3 when it is launched, each of which will combine turbocharging and direct fuel injection. The 2.0-litre TFSI petrol unit will be available in 172bhp and 214bhp guises, and there will also be a 2.0-litre TDI delivering 179bhp. The top-of-the-range 2.0-litre TFSI has a top speed of 143mph and can sprint from 0-62mph in 6.9 seconds. The range will be supplemented after launch with a 2.0-litre TDI offering 142bhp.
The 2.0 TFSI 142bhp and the 2.0 TDI 172bhp will come with a 6-speed manual transmission, whereas the 2.0 179bhp and 2.0 TFSI 214bhp engine cars will feature a 7-speed S tronic twin-clutch transmission.
With a raised ride height and a robust multi-link suspension system - as well as an Electronic Stability Program with electronic differential lock - the new Q3 will be well suited to driving on difficult terrain. Combining this with the impressive efficiency and compact size, the latest Audi off-roader will be a highly versatile vehicle.
Inside the compact body there will be seating for five people. With all of the seats up the boot storage space will come in at 460-litres, with the possibility to increase that to 1,365-litres when the seats are down.
The Q3 will be available in two trim levels: SE and S line. The SE model offers 17 inch alloys, chrome window trims, rear parking sensors and dual-zone climate control. Upgrading to S line trim offers 18 inch Alloy wheels, external styling refinements, and xenon headlamps with LED daytime running lamps and LED rear tail lights.
Due to go on sale in the UK in November this year, the Q3 will be available from approximately £25,000.
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