The Audi Q3 is
getting ready to be replaced by a new generation, expected to hit showrooms
sometime in 2018. The vehicle will
make transition from the current platform that can be traced back to the VW
Golf Mk5, to the MQB, meaning that the outcome will be
less weight, more space and the possibility of adding newer powertrains.
One of them could be a plug-in hybrid e-tron,
expected to be introduced approximately one year after the regular version's
presentation, which should combine a 1.4-liter TFSI with an electric motor.
Additionally, the brand with the four rings could also be looking into an
all-electric version of the Q3, which, if approved, might share its
underpinnings with the facelifted VW e-Golf. This uses a 134 horsepower and 214
pound-feet (290 Nm) of torque electric motor, fed by a 35.8 kWh battery pack.
A range-topping Audi RS Q3 is also believed to be
part of the offering, probably using the brand's latest five-cylinder
turbocharged engine, mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission
that pushes the output to the Quattro four-wheel drive. As for the rest of the
engine lineup, this is expected to include 1.5-liter and 2.0-liter
four-cylinder petrol and diesel units.
Visually, the 2019 Audi Q3 is said to follow a
similar route as the second generation Q5, while sharing a similar footprint to
the current Q3, and boosting its practicality. It is expected to be more
radical inside, as this is where the automaker will introduce the Virtual
Cockpit, a different dashboard and center console, a modified steering wheel,
and the latest infotainment system.
