[Arabay]

While the 2.0 has been the staple of the Q3 range since its inception, Audi will now be offering a more frugal offering. Meet the Q3 1.4T, FWD. While the rest of the Q3 range was always sold with standard AWD.

This seems like a move aimed directly at the Mercedes GLA and BMW X1. The 1.4T may seem familiar to you, and thats because it is, making a name for itself under the hood of the A3. In the Q3 the 1.4 makes a pleasant 148 bhp and 184 lb-ft of twist, pulls down 47.9 mpg (european) and is avilable in either manual or 7 speed automatic guise. the 1.4 will motivate the Q3 to 62 mpg in 9.2 seconds and will top itself out at 126 mph (which I hope you never get to).

Now the real question is if this engine will make the jump to north america? Buys are already familiar with the set up from the A3, and the FWD only guise should be popular in places like California where the image is everything.

 

[Quatto]

It's a good move, a move that will indeed make the Q3 more competitive.

 

[audifanatic]

A3 is actually a zippy little car.

 

[Otto]

I don't think that Audi will bring this engine to the US. There are plenty of other vehicles where companies choose to not offer the lowest trim engine tin America. They usually offer it to people in Europe but skip the US. I guess there must be a good reason for it.

 

[audifanatic]

it would be interesting to see if they did or not

 

[Otto]

Do you think it would be a good business move for them though? Would they stand more to gain or to lose?

 

[Quatto]

It would help them tap into an even lower segment in the luxury game which i think is a good move

 

[rnlabas]

Unless they can also put this engine in the A3 or A1(if it comes here), it's way too expensive to federalize compared with de tuning the 1.8 or even 2.0 - which they've already done for the Q3...

Each option variant of a model - including using say different dash trim or seats, requires a full certification process which runs some $5M. Factor a $300-$500 difference in cost of the car, and you can see they'd need to sell about 10000 units of that variant only to just amortize the test (NOT the only cost of bringing that model here).

Prolly not a solid business case I'd guess - and it think would ultimately dilute the brand more than the front-track 2.0 ...