First Drive: 2014 Audi SQ5
#16
Lexus Champion
RS Q3 coming to the US?
http://blog.caranddriver.com/the-con...nate-rejected/
http://blog.caranddriver.com/the-con...nate-rejected/
Audi does not offer the Q3 in North America, but this is about to change within a year or two. And so my colleague Matthias Knödler took a closer look at the little luxury crossover—specifically, the high-performance RS Q3, which is being launched in Austria right now. We hear that as soon as the Q3 receives its midcycle face lift, it will be sent to the U.S., where it will compete with the BMW X1 and the slightly smaller Mercedes-Benz GLA-class. Why isn’t it coming now? Because it does not meet the requirements to be classified as a “light truck” and will need to be modified to, among other things, manage the mandated approach angle for such vehicles. Once that issue is tackled, the Q3 will be heading stateside—the hot RS Q3 included.
Powered by a turbocharged, 2.5-liter straight-five, the RS Q3 is rated at a conservative 310 horsepower—slightly more than the X1 xDrive35i and far less than in the outgoing RS3 and the TT RS. Power comes on around 3500–4000 rpm; it is channeled to all wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. This makes the RS Q3 plenty quick: It charges to 62 mph in 5.2 seconds and is governed at 155 mph. Matthias says that even in Dynamic and Sport modes, the RS Q3 could be more eager to downshift on tight mountain passes, and given how the shift paddles are indispensable, they could be a bit larger. Outside, the RS Q3 sounds great; inside, its unique exhaust note is perhaps a bit too muted.
Powered by a turbocharged, 2.5-liter straight-five, the RS Q3 is rated at a conservative 310 horsepower—slightly more than the X1 xDrive35i and far less than in the outgoing RS3 and the TT RS. Power comes on around 3500–4000 rpm; it is channeled to all wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. This makes the RS Q3 plenty quick: It charges to 62 mph in 5.2 seconds and is governed at 155 mph. Matthias says that even in Dynamic and Sport modes, the RS Q3 could be more eager to downshift on tight mountain passes, and given how the shift paddles are indispensable, they could be a bit larger. Outside, the RS Q3 sounds great; inside, its unique exhaust note is perhaps a bit too muted.
#22
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I expect the NX to trounce this style-wise. As for performance-wise, hopefully the NX gets that rumoured twin turbo V6, in an F-Sport model or maybe even a V8 NX F.
#23
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Styling is a moving target. The Q5 is in it's 6th model year with a new gen due in 2015. The NX and Q5 will both be new.
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#26
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Do you really expect the next-gen Q5 will look dramatically different? Of course not; it will look almost exactly the same as the current model, just like every other redesigned Audi has looked compared to their predecessors. That's the Audi way style-wise for almost the last 10 years.
#27
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Do you really expect the next-gen Q5 will look dramatically different? Of course not; it will look almost exactly the same as the current model, just like every other redesigned Audi has looked compared to their predecessors. That's the Audi way style-wise for almost the last 10 years.
#28
sorry audi - i love your sedans, but your SUVs are still way too boring for my taste. why not try something that resembles A7? make an suv version out of it? try something new with the proportion and the greenhouse.
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#30
Audi SUVs look great... Q5 has very little space in the back though, I dont know why as it is FWD based... I sat in it few times and my knees rubbed the front seats all the time. Far less space than even old Rav4, let alone new one. It does look great and interior is fine... Q1/Q3 interior does not look luxury.
Even Q7 doesnt have a lot of space in 2nd row, but it is truck based so we there is a technical reason for it.
Even Q7 doesnt have a lot of space in 2nd row, but it is truck based so we there is a technical reason for it.