Audi has released a new official video starring their new Q3 Vail Concept, which was premiered at the last North American International Auto Show of Detroit. This particular version of Audi Q3 anticipates shape and contents of the RS variant - which is expected to surface pretty soon - and has been developed on the same platform used for the A3 hatchback. The model is equipped with a 2.5-litre TFSI engine producing 314 hp and 400 Nm (295.02 lb-ft) of peak torque and, according to the carmaker, it can push the car from 0 to 100 km/h (62mph) in 5.5 seconds, with 262 km/h (163 mph) of top speed.

The Audi Q3 Vail Concept has been named after the famous Colorado ski resort - underlining the fact that Audi designed it for winter sports fans - and comes with an exclusive Energy Red paintjob and matt gray add-on body parts. The black-gray-red theme continues in the cabin, where innovative leather/fabric material is used for the upholstery.

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In the wake of its recent unveiling at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Audi releases an official photo gallery starring the Q3 Vail concept, the model that somewhat anticipates the future ‘RS’ version of the popular compact SUV from the four rings house. This all-wheel drive concept car shares its platform with the A3 hatchback and is powered by a 2.5-litre 5-cylinder turbocharged engine producing 314 hp and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) of peak torque that - in combination with a 7-speed S-Tronic automatic transmission - provides the model with a 0-100 km/h (62 mph) sprint time of 5.5 seconds and a top speed of 262 km/h (163 mph).

The Audi Q3 Vail concept has been named after the famous Colorado ski resort, hinting at the fact that Audi designed the model targeting a young custom base made of winter sports fans who love skiing and snowboarding. The model uses an exclusive Energy Red paintjob with matt gray add-on body parts are in its lower body. However, the most striking elements are the flared fenders and running boards, which Audi will soon add to the already wide range of Q3 accessories. Another interesting feature is the front roof-rail support with integrated LED lights that can illuminate the area around the vehicle.

As for the interior, the Audi Q3 Vail Concept comes with a combination of color matching black, gray, and red elements. The headlining is made from titanium gray Alcantara and large parts of the interior, including the carpet, are black and edged with red velvet-finish leather. To find out more about the Audi Q3 Vail Concept, see the official Press Release after the jump.

View the full Audi Q3 Vail Concept photo gallery

Continue reading: Audi Q3 Vail Concept: official photo gallery released

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It could just be our cynical thinking but we get the impression that the rumours surrounding an Audi Q3 RS model are about giving the new compact crossover/SUV a helping hand with an early performance version. In any case, a Q3 RS is a very interesting proposition, and the video above claims to be a pre-production test drive of a Q3 with a five-cylinder (but detuned) engine.

The video would seem to contradict recent statements by Stephan Reil, head of Quattro GmbH, about the difficulties of installing the five-cylinder powertrain in the Q3 bonnet. The guys taking the video say that this pre-production Q3 has 300 hp, down from the 340 of the TT RS and the RS3 Sportback, and was equipped with the seven-speed S-tronic gearbox.

The video further reveals that despite the sporty engine, this particular pre-production model might not be called “R” or “RS” in the future. The engine has a really great sound so frankly, they can call it what they will as long as they give us a chance to have a play, too.

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We’re not sure that hauling a vehicle is the best way to market it and demonstrate its driving capabilities, but in any case that’s the strategy adopted by Audi in the Netherlands to advertise the new Audi Q3. The model gets put on the back of a large trailer and takes a tour around the country, pulled by a Q7.

People seeing the Audi Q3 trailer can leave a message on Facebook or Twitter of where they saw it, and win a chance to test drive the vehicle. We thought actually winning the thing itself might be more generous, but it seems that Audi has instead opted to put the Q3 in motion then with the test drive. We love the pics though - is it just us or does the Q3 look big compared to the Q7 when on the trailer…?

Audi Q3 trailer tour Netherlands

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This high tech video with special effects and some funky music shows the new Audi Q3 in a good light as it keeps turning on its stand. We still can’t help wondering at the futility of a model like this in the Audi range, though. Indeed, the access that the Volkswagen group has to low-cost investment in new models across its brands seems like almost a cynical gesture to us as we wait to see some innovative design direction, or models that speak more of the excitement we felt on first seeing the Audi TT way back, or the R8.

It’s far too easy and predictable right now to jump on the crossover bandwagon and VW is unfortunately doing that very effectively across all its brands. After sharing the Volkswagen Tiguan and Audi Q5 platform with the Audi Q3, a possible Q1 and even future Seat models, we’ll be all SUV-ed out from the group before long. Still, that’s just our impression and if this is the start of a new crossover era, it’s quite possible that the market will prove us wrong and we will continue to potter about in outdated hatchbacks.

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Do we detect some “me-tooism” across the Volkswagen brands? While we liked the Seat IBX Concept when it was revealed at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, we wonder if VW isn’t stacking its models a little, with plans to produce the IBX based on the new Audi Q3. The savings with such a project are obvious - both models would be produced at the Martorell plant meaning production line economics can be maximised, and the IBX would be the second new model born from the Volkswagen Tiguan.

What we loved about the Seat IBX might be the very thing that disappears in a production version - its edgy design. The Audi Q3 comes across as just another Audi, but this three-door coupé-crossover could be just what Seat needs to distinguish its crossover from the rest. Audi can afford this, because it’s an upmarket brand; Seat can’t really allow itself to produce an anonymous crossover, though.

If VW goes conservative on the design though, the IBX will join the growing ranks of crossover models with nothing to set it apart. We could see this project working if Seat keeps the IBX a little different and markets it at lower price, in which case it could also find a future for itself on the Chinese car market as well, for example.

Continue reading: Analysis: Seat IBX to production and the design challenge

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Audi has released the price of the new Audi Q3 compact SUV on the local German market. The Q3 is the new entry-level model in the Q range and is the smaller version of the Q5, borrowing from the Volkswagen Tiguan platform as well. The German Audi Q3 price starts from 29,900 euros.

That particular figure refers to the 2.0 TDI entry model with 140 hp and 2WD. It equates to about €10,000 less than the Q5, which itself comes only in all-wheel drive option. There is a jump of nearly 7,000 euros to the next model, with the 2.0 TDI with 177 hp, Quattro all-wheel drive and S-Tronic transmission costing €36,800.

The Audi Q3 petrol models cost €31,550 for the 2.0 TFSI with 170 hp and €36,800 for the 2.0 TFSI with 211 hp, Quattro and S-Tronic transmission. The Q3 configurator isn’t online yet, but when it is, those prices will only go up. We’re not sure yet how this model will be received and whether it might provide some competition to the A3 within the Audi range itself, being a new crossover option that previously was absent. It will be interesting to see how this pans out.

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Audi has released all the pics and some of the details of its new Q3 model before it debuts this week at the 2011 Shanghai Motor Show. The new Audi Q3 is based on the Volkswagen Tiguan, but is designed to be an entry-level access to a luxury SUV in the Volkswagen line-up. While still an Audi up front, the Q3 has a cuter look than even the A1, which puts us in mind of what Mini did with its Countryman compact SUV.

The Audi Q3 will look good and provide plenty of that luxury touch inside and out by the time it hits the European market, and depending on what the company does with its revamped A3 next year, we’ll be interested to see whether the Q3 can’t out-sell the popular hatchback. The Audi Q3 will come equipped with two engines in four powersteps: the 2.0 TFSI and the 2.0 TDI. The petrol engine comes in 170 and 211 hp versions, while the diesel unit makes 140 and 177 hp.

Pricing for the Q3 in Europe should start at nearly €30,000 and options include the S-Line package and off-road package with Quattro all-wheel drive as part of the five packages available. On the inside we get plenty of Audi luxury with numerous accessories, wi-fi connectivity, BOSE audio system and satellite navigator. So far Audi isn’t being awarded for its originality with this design and the BMW X1 possibly wins on the luxury stakes, being based on the 3 Series platform. But this is becoming a seriously competitive segment and an Audi offering means those fans can have their own slice of Audi compact SUV-ness.

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The Audi Q3 has been released in these new Q3 pics before it gets its official debut at the 2011 Shanghai Motor Show. As we already know, the Q3 sees the expansion of the Audi SUV range downwards, providing a more compact model than the previous entry-level Q5. The Audi Q3 is based on the PQ35 platform, which is the same as that used for the Volkswagen Tiguan, and is 4.39 metres long, 1.83 wide and 1.6 high.

Those measurements mean the Q3 is 24 cm shorter than the Audi Q5, 5.3 cm slimmer and five centimetres lower as well. While the Q3 design shows many similarities to the Q5, the company says it was inspired by the Cross Coupe Quattro presented at the Shanghai show back in 2007. In fact, it has a more hatchback-like, crossover look than the boxier, larger SUVs, but keeps a classic Audi grille and has an upwardly curved side panel.

The Audi Q3 comes with 2.0 TFSI and 2.0 TDI engine options. The petrol range comes in 170 hp and 211 hp for a sprint to 100 of 6.9 seconds and a top speed of 230 km/hr. The two diesel engines come in either 140 or 177 hp, keeping fuel consumption down to 5.2 litres per 100 km. The Q3 has Quattro all-wheel drive is available as an option, while the top models only have Audi’s DSG seven-speed gearbox.

Audi Q3 debut pics

Continue reading: Audi Q3 unveiled: pics and first details

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Not having seen the new Audi Q3 compact SUV yet, our next comment might seem a bit harsh: we had expected something more from a design point of view but it looks like we will definitely get a smaller Q5 based on the Volkswagen Tiguan. Not that Audi had lead us to believe anything different, but we had naively hoped for something a bit more individual all the same.

In any case the new Audi Q3 will soon be launched at the Shanghai Motor Show, and will provide the sports SUV segment to the new Audi A3 line-up. The teaser follows the first Q3 drawings released by Audi and we imagine there’ll be more to come in the next few days.

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The Audi Q3 compact SUV appears in these first official drawings from the company before the 2011 Shanghai Motor Show kicks off. We can’t be sure that the Chinese show will official reveal the Q3 as there is no press release accompanying the images.

In any case, these drawings show that despite its smaller size, the Audi Q3 takes design cues from the Q5. As we already know, the new SUV for Audi will be built at Seat facilities in Martorell, Spain. The model is based on the Volkswagen Tiguan and will have a series of TFSI and TDI engines from the Volkswagen Group.

From what we can gather, the drawings show no real differences to the interior of the Audi Q3 but any changes that will be made are likely to appear on next year’s new Audi A3, as well.

Audi Q3 official drawings

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When Audi revealed its A3 Concept sedan model at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, it made no secret of the fact that it’s a concept designed specifically with the US in mind. The German brand is already improving its status as a luxury brand in the US market, with record sales in the first quarter of this year, especially thanks to the new Audi A8.

It plans to continue pursuing BMW to usurp its throne as the world’s top premium automaker, particularly in emerging markets like China. But strong competition from BMW and Mercedes in the US means this market is equally important, and has both sales and brand growth potential for Audi.

When the Audi A3 Concept debuted live at the Geneva show we weren’t exactly overwhelmed by its style, being the latest in a long line of very similar looking cars from the company. It was, however, described variously by the American as “hot”, “svelte”, “sleek” and “shapely” although those labels could be applied to any number of coupe-sedan models currently on the market. What did Audi do that was so clever that has the Americans waiting to welcome the A3 sedan?

Continue reading: Analysis: Audi A3 Concept for the US - what the Americans say about their A3 sedan

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