AUDI'S BABY SUV IS ALL GROWN UP

With all the craziness of Monterey Car Week , spy shots of the new Audi Q3 with minimal camouflage slipped beneath the radar, but this is the most significant styling update we've had on the baby SUV since we spied the Q3 winter testing in a full vinyl wrap with fake bumper elements. That being said, the prototype you see here is not completely undisguised, as confirmed by some of the black foil peeling back or simply being left unapplied in certain areas.

The car underneath is painted a vibrant red, and the front grille is a bright satin silver like you'd associate with the wing mirrors on an Audi S3. As with the electric Audi S6 e-tron, a split headlight configuration sees narrow LED daytime running lights flow into the Singleframe grille. The main headlight beams sit in large, square housings above what appear to be faux intake grilles, and the front view also confirms the existence of a large glass roof panel.

Unusual Brakes Could Be A Sign Of More Upbadging

BMW has been fitting so-called M-lite models with quad pipes in an effort to trade off the prestige of full M cars, and Audi gave the new A5 Sedan and Avant badges that instantly call to mind its Sport division. More of that sort of thing seems to be evident here, as this prototype, despite not being an RS Q3, is wearing tiny brake calipers painted red. Perhaps this is an S-Line model, and Audi is copying the AMG-Line and M Performance styling strategies more closely. In profile, this looks more like a Q7 than ever before, and the character line flowing from the glasshouse into the rear windshield spoiler and airflow cleaners exacerbate the inevitable length increase of the all-new model. A third window behind the C-pillar confirms this will be noticeably larger.

At the rear, the taillights are shaped like the side intake on a Corvette, although we doubt that was the inspiration. It still looks very Audi-like, however, and we have no doubt the final product will be stylish. The lower section of each taillight is more pronounced from the bodywork as it meets the upper tailgate, which, in combination with the fake diffuser panel (likely featuring more satin silver elements), helps make the entire rear look more compact. Sadly, the diffuser panel shows no evidence of exhaust cutouts, which we fully expect.

Rumored Engines

Audi will continue investing in both electric and combustion powertrains, so the Q3's engines are expected to reflect the brand's multifaceted approach to decarbonization. The last we heard, the variety of powertrains on offer will be large, including two plug-in hybrids. The base model is said to offer 201 horsepower, while the mid-range model is rumored to be capable of nearly 270 hp. Unfortunately, that effectively confirms that the high-performance RS Q3 is still off the cards for American buyers, and with the demise of the Audi TT in 2023, the only way you can get your hands on Audi's award-winning 5-pot is with the just-refreshed RS3. Sadly, this is likely the last time the five-cylinder will be offered in any car.

2024-08-24T01:42:34Z dg43tfdfdgfd