While the S Q3 is nothing to sneeze at, it appears
Audi is already working on a new RS Q3. The high-performance crossover was
recently spotted undergoing testing on the Nürburgring and it looks identical
to the S Q3.
Carscoops spy photographer is pretty confident the crossover is the RS Q3 as it
was being tested alongside an RS3 and both models sounded identical. The spy
shooter also notes the crossover appeared to have carbon ceramic discs backed
up by six-piston calipers up front.
It’s impossible to be 100% certain that this is an
RS Q3 prototype but it wouldn’t be the first time the Q3 has received an RS
variant. Two years ago, Audi introduced an even more powerful RS Q3 Performance
which features a turbocharged 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine producing 362 hp and 465 Nm of torque. It enables the model to
rocket from 0-100 km/h in 4.4 seconds before hitting a top speed of
270 km/h.
Those are some impressive figures but the new RS Q3
is expected to use the RS3’s engine which develops 394 hp and 480 Nm of torque. The extra power should enable the new model to
easily outrun its predecessor.
