Automakers believe that there is no way to have too many crossovers.
The crossover craze may not be over, and Audi understands that extending its Q portfolio will give the Ingolstadt-based marque a larger share of the pie. Customers shopping in the premium segment no longer need to choose between the entry-level Q2 and the flagship Q8, but can also opt for the Q3 or Q5 among them. Next year, the Four Rings will launch a more refined Q3.
It’s not clear if it will be called Q3 Sportback, or Q4, but we are looking at a hybrid between a crossover coupe and a coupe. Although the prototype that our spy cameras captured is completely camouflaged, you can see it has a production body with a modified roofline that slopes towards the rear than the regular Q3.
These types of luxury vehicles have created a niche for luxury automakers as more people are willing and able to pay the extra over the crossover on which these “coupe-ified” versions are built. The Q4 will be an excellent example, since it will basically be the same MQB-based model as Q3, but with a different skin. The regular model will inherit engines, gearboxes and technology.
Audi promises to make the Q4 more that a coupe. They have made some design changes to the crossover so it will stand out from its competitors. It’s hard to see the changes yet, but we will soon have a better view of Q4.
The first ever Audi Q4 will be launched in Europe next year. It will be made in Hungary at Gyor, where the A3/S3/RS3 and TT models are also built. The RS3 and the TT RS will be joined by a range-topping RS Q4 featuring the same magnificent five-cylinder engine rated to 400 horsepower.