One of the manufacturers with extensive lineups includes Audi, which offers everything from sedans to wagons, SUVs to sports supercars. The RS models, however, are most likely the most thrilling within its range. Audis that have been strengthened and given additional power are exciting, especially for fans who desire more power for their ostensibly utilitarian automobiles.
Sedans and wagons are no longer the only vehicles in the RS lineup. The Audi RS Q3 and the more streamlined RS Q3 Sportback, which were introduced in September 2019 for the European market, are among the most recent Audi crossovers to receive special treatment. However, the U.S. market was still unprepared for the fancier Q3.
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Gallery: Audi RS Q3 (2019)
However, a month after the RS Q3’s European debut, a tiny glimmer of optimism appeared for the hopefuls. If the normal Q3 sells well in the US, a previous report that surfaced in October 2019 said that the RS Q3 would make an appearance in American Audi stores. It was a happy development, but it didn’t last long.
According to a recent claim by Motor Authority, RS Q3 won’t be marketed in the United States, according to Audi USA spokesman Mark Dahncke.
Will the Audi RS Q3 ever get here?
Audi has started the teaser campaign for the high-performance sedan and hatchback, which means the new RS 3 is getting closer to going into production.
The cars, which are displayed with RS-branded wraps, have a muscular front fascia and a distinctive mesh grille. Additionally, the vehicles include a front splitter, special ducting, and sporty air intakes.
We can see front fender vents and aerodynamic side skirts as we go down the flanks. Additionally, the models include lightweight wheels that are supported by a high-performance braking system.
The vehicles also have a sizable twin exhaust system and a vented rear bumper. On the sedan, we can also make out a modest diffuser and a little spoiler.
Exists the Audi RS Q3?
Last September, Audi unveiled a new RS Q3 Sportback and a revamped RS Q3.
There was some hope that the RS Q3 would reach the US at the time of the reveal. Since the ordinary Q3 Sportback isn’t available here, the RS Q3 Sportback was always going to be a no-show.
Given the upcoming performance, that is unfortunate. The new RS Q3 maintains the same performance trajectory as its predecessor, which wasn’t offered in the United States either. The same 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-5 from the RS 3 and TT RS is housed under the hood, and it has a maximum output of 400 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque.
The engine accelerates the RS Q3 from 0 to 62 mph in 4.5 seconds and is coupled to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission and all-wheel drive system. The maximum speed is limited at 155 mph, although a performance pack is an option that increases this to 174 mph.
While the RS Q3 skips the US market, local consumers searching for a high-performance crossover can anticipate the forthcoming Mercedes-AMG GLA45 and GLB45 variants. They should make their debut this year and come as models in 2021.
A rsq5 will there be?
When it comes to high-performance SUVs, Audi isn’t coy. With an RS Q8 on the way to serve as a flagship, there’s a noticeable gap in the middle after the RS Q3 added some substantial speed to the lower end of its Q SUV line. The new Audi RS Q5 genuinely fills that void.
The RS Q5 won’t be here for long, but in the interim, our first look anticipates what the vehicle might look like. As is customary for Audi, the 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 from the RS5 Coupe will be housed in the engine compartment, sending power to all four wheels using a quattro all-wheel-drive system.
Should Canada receive the RSQ3?
Similar to the original generation, Audi’s Q3 crossover will receive a performance RS model with an engine sourced from the TT RS sports car. The distinction is that this new automobile ought to arrive in North America as well.
The 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-five cylinder engine powering the 2019 Audi RS Q3 is anticipated to produce more than 400 horsepower, which will be sent to all four wheels via a seven-speed automated transmission.
According to Car & Driver, the body and chassis will also receive improvements over the standard Q3, with aggressive styling cues to differentiate it from its less potent siblings and RS enhancements that will be even better integrated into the new car, where they were more of an afterthought for the last-gen Q3.
The RS Q3 would compete against other hot-hatch crossovers like the Mercedes-AMG GLA45 in the U.S. and Canada, according to the magazine.
What is it?
By 2023, Audi Sport, formerly known as Quattro, which is the division of Audi in charge of the RS3 and RS6 as well as the R8 and the company’s Formula E, DTM, GT3 and TCR programs, plans to treble sales of its road vehicles. And this gadget will assist it in getting there. Say welcome to the new RS Q3, the fastest small SUV you can purchase, with a five-cylinder engine that produces close to 400 horsepower, a top speed of up to 174 mph, and the option of ceramic brakes. Yes, I do.
We all know how popular small performance SUVs are right now. The Cupra Ateca, VW T-Roc R, BMW X2 M35i, Mercedes-AMG GLB35, and Skoda Kodiaq vRS have all recently gone on sale. And there are yet many more to come. However, the RS Q3 has been available since 2013, when it originally went on sale. The same is true today; nothing has ever been quite like it. At least not until Mercedes decides to replace the AMG GLA45.
On RS-tuned suspension, the RS Q3 rides 10mm lower than a conventional Q3 out of the box. New bumpers, skirts, wide wheel arches, and large wheels are some cosmetic improvements. Oh, and the previous RSQ3’s single tailpipe has been replaced with a dual-exit exhaust. There are some serious seats and a steering wheel with a flat bottom within.
Prices start at 52,450 or 53,600 for the RS Q3 “Sportback,” which has a roofline that is 45mm lower. Despite the higher price and sacrificed interior, Audi anticipates the Sportback to be more popular than the basic RS Q3 (sales will be 60% Sportback, 40% standard, according to Audi). Both have been driven by us, but mechanically they are the same. Naturally, they experience driving in exactly the same way.
Are we going to get the Audi Q3 Sportback?
What results from the union of an Audi Q3 SUV and an Audi TT RS coupe? What is it? The 2020 Audi RS Q3 Sportback. The RS Q3 Sportback is the fastest and sportiest compact Audi SUV yet, with a turbocharged 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine producing 394 horsepower and a top speed of 174 mph. Is that terrible news? There are no current plans for Audi to import it to America.
The RS Q3 Sportback debuts alongside the technically similar 2020 RS Q3 and is one of six high-performance RS Audi vehicles being released this year (the new RS6 Avant and RS7 Sportback have already been shown) (sadly also not coming to America). The sportier design of the two hot Q3s makes the Sportback more intriguing.
Purists may object, but nowadays there are four-door SUVs that resemble coupes, and the little RS Q3 Sportback, which was created by Marc Lichte, the head of Audi’s design department, looks the part in the real world. Particularly in the vivid Kyalami Green launch color, Lichte’s powerful RS-style front and rear fascias and finely sculpted fender arches give it a Hulkish muscular swagger.
Only the hood, front fenders, and fascias are shared between the RS Q3 and the RS Q3 Sportback. Thanks to more steeply sloped A-pillars and a smaller windshield, the new roof is 1.8 inches lower. The swooping D-pillars at the back are the result of new bodyside stampings, and the new front and rear doors have frameless side windows. The fenders have been pumped out 0.4 inches on each side over typical 20-inch wheels and low-profile tires, just like the RS Q3.
Under the hood is the 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbocharged engine that has served faithfully for the past nine years in a number of high-performance compact Audis. The charismatically throbby engine’s most recent version produces 394 horsepower between 5,850 and 7,000 rpm and 354 lb-ft of torque between 1,950 and 5,850 rpm. A seven-speed dual-clutch transmission distributes power to all four wheels.
The RS Q3 Sportback can dive into corners thanks to variable ratio steering and torque vectoring by the brakes, and it can blast out turns thanks to an electronically managed multi-plate center differential that transmits more torque to the rear axle in sportier drive modes. The ride height is lowered by 0.4 inches with the standard RS sport suspension. Variable damping is added to the mix by the optional Dynamic Chassis Control system to enhance ride comfort over rough terrain and boost support during sharp turns.
According to Audi, the RS Q3 Sportback can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under 4.5 seconds. Unless you select the extra Dynamic Plus package, which increases V-max to 174 mph, the top speed is 155 mph. Big brakes equal big speed Standard brakes on the RS Q3 are 14.8-inch steel discs in front and 12.2-inch discs in back, while 15.0-inch carbon-ceramic front rotors are an option. 21-inch wheels are also a possibility.
Audi’s superb Virtual Cockpit digital instrument panel, which is standard on the RS Q3 Sportback, is improved and available as an option. In addition to offering a shift light display to aid in effective gearshifting, this also features specific RS displays that provide data on tire pressure, torque, power output, lap times, g-forces, and acceleration. Nappa leather RS sport seats with an RS-specific honeycomb pattern and built-in head restraints are among the interior enhancements as well. There is an option for red or blue contrast stitching.
The RS Q3 Sportback is just slightly less practical than the RS Q3 despite having sportier sheet metal. When the seatbacks are folded flat, the Sportback’s luggage space is only 8% smaller than that of its brother with a conventional roof because the rear seats may be moved fore and aft by 5.1 inches (as opposed to 5.9 inches in the RS Q3). The 18.7 cubic feet of load capacity in the Sportback is identical when the backs of the rear seats are upright.
The fantastic tiny RS 3 car, which has the exact same powerplant as the RS Q3 Sportback and sub-4.0 second 0-60 mph speed, is of course available for purchase in the United States if you desire a little high-performance Audi. However, considering America’s continued adoration of SUVs, one can’t help but question whether Audi of America is overlooking an opportunity by not including the sleek, quick RS Q3 Sportback in its inventory.
Rsq3 offers park assistance.
Numerous systems are included as standard equipment with the RS Q3 and RS Q3 Sportback. In the event of an accident, Audi Pre Sense Front offers support. By using front radar, the system can identify dangerous conditions in front of the automobile while also registering pedestrians, cyclists, and other moving objects. In the event of an emergency, it alerts the driver visually, audibly, and haptically and starts the emergency braking system. Additionally, this is the time when Audi Pre Sense Front’s preventive safety measures are put to use. The technology electrically tightens the front seat belts, closes the windows and the optional sliding roof, and turns on the danger warning lights to alert vehicles following behind as soon as the vehicle sensors identify an unstable driving scenario. For instance, when the electronic stabilization control (ESC) sensors identify heavy braking or sliding.
The lane departure warning helps with steering corrections if the driver has not activated a turn signal and the automobile is likely to cross a lane marking that is identified by the front camera. Germany also has the lane change warning system, which employs two rear-facing radar sensors. A warning LED is lit in the appropriate outside mirror if the system detects a car in the blind spot or coming up fast from behind.
Parking system plus, which is also included as standard on the RS Q3** and the RS Q3 Sportback**, aids the driver by displaying information on the MMI touch screen and issuing audible cues while parking and maneuvering.
Audi produces a SQ3?
- SQ3 will receive a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo engine.
- RS Q3 will have a 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbo engine.
- For the SQ3, 340 horsepower
- The RS Q3 has in excess of 400 horsepower.
- All models come equipped with quattro AWD.
- 7-speed dual-clutch transmission
- hefty brakes
- Ceramic discs and six-pot calipers
- MQB platform from the inside out
The 2.5-liter turbo inline five-cylinder engine from Audi’s earlier rally models should continue to power the RS Q3.
We’ll discuss our powertrain expectations for both the SQ3 and the RS Q3 in this part since we’re not entirely sure which model we’re dealing with.
Let’s start with the SQ3, which has a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine, the same one that Audi uses in the S3 sedan. The 2.0-liter engine in the base four-door variant generates up to 310 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Audi might, however, increase the horsepower to as much as 340 in the SQ3. If so, the time needed to go from 0 to 60 mph would be in the high four-second range, beating the time required by the current model of five seconds.
The RS Q3 will continue to use the same 2.5-liter turbo inline five-cylinder engine as previously, which is frequently considered as a reference to Audi’s rally Quattro history. Currently, the RS Q3 can generate up to 340 horsepower (367 horsepower in the Performance variant), and as time goes on, the second-gen will probably surpass 400 horsepower by the time the 2020 model year rolls around.
That’s a figure we’ve heard before, notably on the RS3 and TTRS, which both have five-cylinder engines that produce 400 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. All things considered, it’s a significant improvement for the RS Q3 and should reduce its 0-to-60 mph time from 4.4 seconds to 4 seconds flat, possibly even dropping into the high-3 second area.
As usual, quattro AWD will be standard across the board for both the SQ3 and RS Q3. A seven-speed S Tronic dual-clutch transmission, which is supplied as standard across the range, will link the engine to the driving system.
As we get closer to the road, we notice that this tester has a big brake package.
As we get closer to the road, we notice that this tester has a fairly substantial brake system, featuring massive multi-piston calipers and drilled discs made of what appears to be a ceramic carbon material. The front brakes appear to use six-piston units to grip the big, light discs.
With the use of all these indicators, we may conclude that this is an RS Q3 rather than a SQ3. Its use of a production RS3 and TT RS during testing adds further support to that theory.
Of course, a reduced suspension must also be considered, potentially with some adaptive dampers and other similar parts. To give a balance of sportiness and comfort, look for numerous drive modes. By upgrading to the top-dog performance model, which has additional power, stronger suspension components, and further aesthetic treatments, you can achieve even greater speed.
As we previously reported, the Q3 appears to be getting a longer wheelbase than before, which will translate into more stability in straight lines but less willingness to turn in bends. The Q3 will have many handling challenges to solve because to its elevated ride, front-biased weight distribution, and AWD design. However, Audi is skilled at creating these kinds of platforms that slice the curves, so count on the brand’s top-notch technology to pick up the slack.
The new MQB platform from Volkswagen will be underneath the skin. The greater stiffness of these brand-new bones is fantastic for using those adaptive suspension components. Additionally, it will save weight compared to the current model, maybe by as much as 110 pounds.