Hot Q3 is in the works
RS makeover for small SUV
Audi is readying a highperformance RS version of the new Q3, and spy photographers have caught the hot SUV testing at the Nürburgring with minimal body camouflage.
Telltale signs that this test car is no ordinary Q3 include deeper and wider air intakes, larger wheels hiding beefier front brakes, a lowered stance and, most significantly, the signature RS oval twin exhaust tailpipes visible from the rear.
Sources close to the German brand tell us that the RS Q3 will retain the 2.5-litre fivecylinder petrol engine found in the current variant, as well as the RS 3 hatchback and TT RS coupé. The motor will be the lighter, more powerful aluminium block five-pot introduced in 2017. It has been designed to comply with all planned changes in emissions regulations for at least the entire life cycle of the new Q3.
The power output of the inline five cylinder unit has yet to be confirmed, but it will be boosted up to, and potentially above, the 362bhp of the current RS Q3 Performance. The current RS 3 produces 394bhp, so it’s possible that output would be retained for the new SUV.
The engine is the world’s most powerful seriesproduction five-cylinder mill, and would give the RS Q3 the edge over its main rival, the Mercedes-amg GLA 45. It would also be considerably more powerful than upcoming hot SUVS in the VW Group stable, such as the 306bhp VW T-roc R and 296bhp Cupra Ateca. It’s not known yet whether Audi will introduce an SQ3 derivative to bridge the performance gap between the RS model and the standard Q3.
As with all RS models, the hot Q3 will transfer its power to the road through all four wheels. Revisions to the chassis compared with the standard car should ensure it has the handling to match, while the interior will benefit from the usual RS treatment, with more supportive seats and a flat-bottomed steering wheel.
The standard Q3 is due in dealerships in November. The RS Q3 won’t launch until several months after that, so expect to see it appear in the middle of 2019 after a likely debut at the Geneva motor show in March.