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Audi unveils Q3 Jinlong Yufeng in Beijing

Zach Bowman — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Performance, China, Crossover, Audi, Beijing Motor Show, Design/Style, Luxury

Audi has just unveiled a special concept version of the company's Q3 at this week's 2012 Beijing Motor Show to commemorate the year of the dragon. The 2012 Q3 Jinlong Yufeng, or "Golden Dragon In The Wind," caters to the kite surfers of the world thanks to its two roof-mounted carbon-fiber reinforced polymer boards and a clever kite pouch that can also be used to hold wet articles of clothing or serve as a beach umbrella. Designers have also thrown in a set of removable, wireless video cameras that can easily be attached to a sail bar or helmet.

The Q3 Jinlong Yufeng wears Liuli Yellow paint outside as well as a few special off-road body components based on production pieces. Brushed stainless steel running boards, LED spotlights mounted in the grille and integrated dual-exit exhaust are all part of the package. Indoors, designers have stitched the vehicle's surfaces with yellow contrasting thread. The seats use woven leather covers and each door panel features a yellow leather insert.

A turbocharged 2.5-liter direct-injection five-cylinder engine delivers 310 horsepower through a seven-speed transmission and Quattro all-wheel drive - enough, Audi says,to power the Q3 Jinlong Yufeng to 62 mph in 5.5 seconds. Hit the jump for the full press release.

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Audi unveils Q3 Jinlong Yufeng in Beijing originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi RS Q3 concept revealed ahead of Beijing

Chris Shunk — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 23:17:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Performance, China, Crossover, Audi, Beijing Motor Show

Audi is hot in China right now, and the four-ringed automaker will show its appreciation by unveiling this hot-to-trot RS Q3 concept at the Beijing Motor Show later this month. Any RS vehicle worthy of the label begins with an outstanding powertrain. In this case, the RS Q3 features the same 2.5-liter TFSI turbocharged five-cylinder that is available in the TT RS, with 360 horsepower and a zero to 62 time pegged at just 5.2 seconds. The powertrain also features a seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission and full-time Quattro all-wheel-drive.

The pumped-up softroader also features several RS-themed styling cues, including a black honeycomb grille that Audi says has a particularly three-dimensional appearance. The concept also features brushed and polished aluminum trim around said grille, tinted headlights and an updated bumper with graping air intakes. The little Q3 also features massive 20-inch aluminum wheels coupled with a ride height that has been dropped by a full inch.

On the inside, the RS Q3 concept displays a blacked-out theme throughout, save for one high-class exception: The seat inserts feature dark blue Alcantara inserts surrounded by Nappa leather. The same dark blue re-appears in the form of door inserts that integrate blue luminescent glass fibers.

Hit the jump to read over the Audi press release and feel free to click on the image above for a high-resolution view of the Audi RS Q3 concept.

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Audi RS Q3 concept revealed ahead of Beijing originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Apr 2012 23:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi Q3 production begins in Spain

Noah Joseph — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Europe, Plants/Manufacturing, Crossover, Audi, SEAT, Luxury

2012 Audi Q3 - Click above for high-res image gallery

It wasn't that long ago that Audi had no SUVs in its lineup - aside from the A6 Allroad Quattro - despite being known for its all-wheel-drive vehicles. But that's all changed, just as it has for BMW and Porsche. The Q7 was followed by the Q5, and now the Q3 has started production as well.

The first Q3 rolled off the assembly line today at the plant in Martorell, Spain. The facility belongs principally to Audi's sister-company Seat, but has gone through a considerable expansion - funded by both Audi and Seat - to prepare for the Q3's production.

Now that production has gotten under way, the Martorell plant is expected to churn out as many as 100,000 examples of the Q3 every year. For more details on the program and the expansion that made it possible, follow the jump for the full press release.

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Audi Q3 production begins in Spain originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Seat to build IBX crossover based on Audi Q3

Noah Joseph — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 18:40:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Europe, Crossover, Audi, SEAT

Seat IBX concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Seat was awarded the internal contract to build the Audi Q3 at its factory in Martorell, Spain, but jobs aren't the only thing the Spanish subsidiary of Volkswagen may get out of the arrangement. According to a new report from What Car?, Seat will receive a production version of the IBX concept on the same platform.

The IBX show car was unveiled last month at the Geneva Motor Show, packing a hybrid powertrain and coupe-like three-door bodystyle. When it enters production - tipped for sometime next year - it is likely to more closely follow convention in both drivetrain and layout.

The last time Seat developed a crossover was with the Tribu concept of 2007, though its production was halted midway through its development process when the global economy began to tank.

Gallery: Seat IBX Concept: Geneva 2011

Photos copyright (C)2011 Drew Phillips / AOL

[Source: What Car?]

Seat to build IBX crossover based on Audi Q3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi Q3 made Officially Official ahead of Shanghai Motor Show

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 18:46:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Audi, Shanghai Motor Show, Diesel, Luxury

2012 Audi Q3 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Audi is apparently done teasing us with rendering after rendering of its new Q3 crossover. Instead, the German automaker has gone ahead and let the cat completely out of the bag ahead of the cute 'ute's official unveiling at the 2011 Shanghai Motor Show.

As you're likely already aware, the Q3 is Audi's take on how to make a Volkswagen Tiguan into an entry-level luxury model. Naturally, that means entirely new sheetmetal with Audi's well-known gaping grille along with LED lighting all around and a steeply sloping rear hatch. Add it all up and Audi says you get an impressively low drag coefficient of just 0.32.

That shapely rear hatch means there are a few concessions inside. There's 16.24 cubic feet of storage capacity with the rear seats in place, and 48.2 with them folded down. The Tiguan, by way of comparison, offers 18.6 and 56.1, respectively, and even that is about 25 percent smaller than a Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4. Judging by the shape of the hind quarters, large and bulky items may be a bit tough to fit inside as well.

You won't be asked to skimp on options, though. Adaptive light technology that points the way forward, electronic parking assistance and Audi's hard drive-based MMI infotainment and navigation system will all be available at launch, and an option to turn the Q3 into a wireless hotspot will come in the near future.

Two gasoline and one diesel engine, all with direct injection, will be offered at launch, offering between 140 and 211 horsepower. The two most powerful engines will be mated to Audi's Quattro all-wheel-drive system via a seven-speed dual clutch transmission. A 170-horsepower gasoline engine will also be offered with front-wheel drive. We'll have to play a game of wait-and-see to find out which of these powertrains make their way Stateside.

Base price in Germany for the 2012 Audi Q3 will be 29,900 euros when it goes on sale in June. For those keeping track, that's about $43,000 at the current exchange rate, though we wouldn't go by that figure when estimating its cost when it eventually hits the U.S. Want to know more? Find all the details in the exhaustive press blast after the break.

Gallery: 2012 Audi Q3

[Source: Audi]

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Audi Q3 made Officially Official ahead of Shanghai Motor Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 18:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Audi A3 sedan likely for U.S., Q3 crossover not in the cards (right now)

Steven J. Ewing — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 15:59:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Sedan, Crossover, Audi

Audi A3 Sedan Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Audi A3 Sedan Concept may not have been the Volkswagen Group's biggest show-stopper at the Geneva Motor Show, but it still garnered a lot of high praise from those in attendance. Automotive News reports that if produced, the A3 sedan would likely be sold here in the United States - a no-brainer, really, especially since the German automaker has long considered offering a four-door bodystyle of the A3 here in America.

Peter Schwarzenbauer, Audi AG board member for sales and marketing, tells Automotive News that, "If you look at this specific segment around the world, you come to the conclusion that this car is designed - but it is not yet decided - with the U.S. and China in mind." Schwarzenbauer further states that these are two markets where "the [sedan] segment is quite big." The A3 sedan could come to the U.S. as early as 2013.

However, when it comes to the smaller Q3 crossover that's currently being developed, Audi has not yet decided whether it will be sold in the CUV-hungry U.S. Automotive News reports that if the Q3 is given the green light, it would not arrive for another 12 to 15 months - even though the European-spec crossover is scheduled to go on sale this year.

Gallery: Audi A3 sedan concept: Geneva 2011

Photos copyright (C)2011 Jeremy Korzeniewski / AOL

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

Report: Audi A3 sedan likely for U.S., Q3 crossover not in the cards (right now) originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Audi won't be seeing the Up! side - but a Q1 could be in the cards

Noah Joseph — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 09:28:00 EST

Filed under: Audi

While some automakers - American ones especially - may be consolidating their product line-ups around the world, German automakers seem to be in a constant state of expansion. Audi is no exception, with no fewer, according to Automotive News Europe, than 37 model variants, set to further expand to 42 by 2015. That reportedly won't, however, include a version of the Volkswagen Up! city car program.

Audi CEO Rupert Stadler was quoted as saying he simply could not picture slotting another small car into the line-up underneath the new A1. The marque could, however, go ahead with plans for a compact SUV to fit in beneath the Q3. The vehicle likely to be called Q1 is apparently under consideration.

As for the A1, Audi still does not plan to bring the premium hatchback to the U.S. market, preferring instead to focus on its current line-up while the Brussels plant tasked with assembling the A1 struggles to keep up with demand. Expanding production, as we recently reported with GM's plans for the Chevrolet Volt, will largely depend on the production capacities of the independent suppliers making the components.

[Source: Automotive News Europe - Sub. Req.]

Report: Audi won't be seeing the Up! side - but a Q1 could be in the cards originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Tiguan-based Audi Q3 peeped through a window

Steven J. Ewing — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Crossover, Audi

Audi Q3 spy shots - Click above for high-res image gallery

Our Peeping Tom spy photographers normally catch prototypes while they're out and about on the street, but sometimes they catch a peek inside automakers' development studios from the street, snagging shots of test mules before their tires even touch the ground. This is one such case, and though these photos aren't clear as day, it's no secret that Audi's new Q3 crossover, based on the Volkswagen Tiguan, is what's being prepped behind closed doors (but not behind closed blinds).

We've known that Audi would be creating a CUV smaller than the Q5 for quite some time now, and while the baby soft-roader relies heavily on Tiguan underpinnings, we're sure that the quad-rung crossover will be much more shapely. Here, we see the sloping roofline and more rakish hatch, giving the Q3 a sportier stance than its VW-badged kin. Set to compete head-on with the BMW X1, the Q3 should make its debut sometime in 2011 with the first production models hitting dealers later that year. Take a close look at these spy shots for yourself in the gallery below.

Gallery: Spy Shots: Audi Q3

[Source: CarPix]

Spy Shots: Tiguan-based Audi Q3 peeped through a window originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEAT starts construction of new Spanish plant to build Audi Q3

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:04:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Crossover, Audi, SEAT

When the Audi Q3 compact CUV hits the streets in 2011, its assembly will be handled by the workers at VW's Spanish division, SEAT. In preparation for the crossover's arrival SEAT is building an all-new body shop at its Martorell factory. Like other modern body shops, the 322,000 square-foot facility will be heavily automated with over 300 robots handling most of the welding and stamp manipulation.

A ceremony was held at the site this week to lay the cornerstone for the new building, and as is typical for these types of events, all the usual politicians and dignitaries turned out for their photo op. The €300 million euro factory is the largest investment made by SEAT in 15 years, and signals that the Volkswagen group tends to keep it around for a while. An estimated 1,500 people will be employed building the Q3 when it launches in two years.

Continue reading SEAT starts construction of new Spanish plant to build Audi Q3

SEAT starts construction of new Spanish plant to build Audi Q3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi considering small CUV and another supercar for U.S., but no A1 for now

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 17:58:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Supercars, Audi

Audi's plans for expansion have been covered endlessly on these pages, and with a goal of selling 1.5 million vehicles globally each year by 2015, Audi understands that success in the U.S. is a key to its goals. Audi is aiming to sell 200,000 units annually to Stateside consumers and the automaker hopes that a portion of those sales will come from a small CUV that slots in below the Q5. Johan de Nysschen, executive veep at Audi of America, is calling the unnamed softroader a "lifestyle" product, which is expected to go on sale early next year. However, a deal with Nissan that only allows Audi to use the "Q" designation on its larger vehicles (the Q5 and Q7) means that it won't be called the Q3... supposedly.

The Autoweek article goes on to say that Audi is considering adding another supercar into its lineup, but de Nysschen didn't offer up any details. Could it be another R8 powered by either a V10 or a V12 TDI? Time will tell, but a halo vehicle to take on the forthcoming Mercedes uber-coupe or BMW M1 revival isn't out of the question.

The A1, however, won't be coming to the U.S. in its first lifecycle. And the future of Audi diesels remains an open question, with the oil-burning Q7 due to hit the market next year and an A4 diesel supposedly in the works.

[Source: Autoweek]

Audi considering small CUV and another supercar for U.S., but no A1 for now originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Jun 2008 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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