Audi has officially confirmed the launch of the Q3, its baby SUV in 2012. Speaking to Autocar India at the Le Mans 24 Hours race, Audi AG’s head of marketing and sales, Peter Schwarzenbauer said, “The Q3 will be good for the Indian market and we will bring this car to India next year.”
Audi is likely to launch the Q3 with the base 2.0-litre TFSI petrol and a 2.0 TDi to compete head-on with the BMW X1, which has stolen a march at the affordable end of the luxury car spectrum. However, unlike the X1 which only comes with rear-wheel drive, Audi will offer the Q3 with both front-wheel and four-wheel-drive options. Prices are likely to be competitive and to lower costs, the Q3 will be assembled at VW’s Aurangabad facility.
Clean and sharp lines – Audi’s current family styling cues – define the Q3’s looks. From the wedge-shaped headlights to the single-frame grille, and even the wraparound tailgate, the baby SUV is a concoction of elements derived from larger Audi models.
Audi hopes to sell 5,000 cars in India in 2011 and 30,000 units by 2020. Affordable models like the Q3 are, hence, critical for the company’s growth. However, Schwarzenbauer says he doesn’t believe in entering the race for volumes. “This approach is risky because if volume is the main driver, you chase numbers and if you don’t achieve them you start to discount your product. Our two main competitors are volume driven (BMW and Mercedes). This is not our approach.”
Audi has said it wants to be the number one premium brand by 2015 but Schwarzenbauer clarifies that it’s not necessary by volume. “This is a bit misleading. What we want to be is the most successful premium brand and that is a combination of many targets.” In the first five months of 2011, Audi sold 2,394 cars in India as compared to 1,167 units over the same period last year.
Also read: Audi Q3 TDI review, test drive