Audi is putting the final touches on the next RS Q3,
with a pair of pre-production test cars spotted wearing significantly less
camouflage than before. The high-performance version of the Q3 will get to keep its
turbocharged 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine, only here it’s expected to produce
around 414 hp.
That’ll make the 2020 RS Q3 the most powerful
compact SUV you can buy, at least until we get an official power figure for the
also upcoming Mercedes-AMG GLA 45. No matter the horsepower, the
Audi RS Q3 will stand out either way from its rivals thanks to the
characteristic soundtrack of the five-pot engine.
A beefed-up Quattro all-wheel drive system will be
responsible for providing more than enough grip, while a dual-clutch
transmission with paddles on the steering wheel will be the only option. Bigger
brakes and an uprated suspension are also going to help with harnessing all
this firepower.
Exterior revisions will follow the usual Audi Sport
recipe, including more aggressive bumpers front and rear with bigger openings,
fender extensions, fatter side sills and dual oval exhaust tips, along with a
rear spoiler and a different mesh pattern for the front grille.
The cabin will be similarly spiced up with
body-hugging seats dressed in expensive leather, alcantara trimmings and lots
of contrast stitching. Audi’s Virtual Cockpit will get an additional
RS-specific viewing mode, as is the norm with every model that comes out of
Audi Sport. Audi is expected to launch the 2020 RS Q3 in the European market
towards the end of the year.
