Audi Removes Wraps on Rapid RS Q3 for Geneva Motor Show

Audi has launched the first of what is believed by company insiders to be a large range of SUVs in the high performance RS lineup after it unveiled the turbocharged RS Q3.

The car will be displayed at Geneva motor show in March. The RS Q3 will be the crown of the popular Q3 lineup as it has a very good straight-line performance that will put it at the top of compact SUV ranks and very much ahead of the competitors which include the turbocharged BMW X1 which has four 2.0-litre cylinders.

The plans for the sales of RS Q3 in North America are however very unclear as the prospective customers look to have a long wait as the standard Q3 models are still to go on sale. Audi has meanwhile confirmed that this model will come to the European showrooms by the third quarter of the year.
The RS Q3 can be differentiated from the other lesser Q3 models on the basis of a series of conventional design elements which include a high gloss and black honeycomb grille insert, deeper front bumper that has air ducts for the engine front bakes and bay, grille frame made from matte aluminum, exterior mirror housings made from matte aluminum, deeper rear bumper that will add one inch to the length when you compare it with a standard Q3 making it 173.6 inches and a much more prominent spoiler on the top of the tailgate. All these features make it much better than a standard SUV.

There is a turbocharged 2.5-litre gasoline engine with 5 engines at the heart of the car which was used in TT RS and also the discontinued RS3. There is also a transversely mounted unit in the RS Q3 which can give a hp of about 306 and at 5200 rpm with a torque of roughly 310 lb-ft and on a rev band that is between 1500 and 5200 rpm.

The gearbox of the car channels the heady reserves and is a standard seven-speed dual clutch and is offered in three different drive modes which are Drive (D), Manual (M) and Sport (S). It also includes a launch-control function that is designed in such a way that it provides the best traction when the car is under hard standing start acceleration.

The drive of the car is transferred permanently through an electro-hydraulic operated all-wheel drive system that with distribution between front and rear wheels varying on basis of grip available.

The Q3 can up to speeds of 62 mph in 5.5 seconds and has a top speed of 155 mph and has adopted an automatic start-stop system that is adopted for the first time by Audi.

There are a many changes in the suspension as it has been lowered and also fitted with springs, dampers and also anti-roll bars for more body control. There are 19-inch standard wheels with three choices of 20-inch rims available. The breaks have been made better as well with a unique design that will reduce the weight.

As far as the interior is concerned, there are sports seats that are leather-trimmed with RS Q3 logos, gray-faced instruments, a flat bottom and leather-bound three spoke multi-function steering that has contrasting stitching, black piano finishing trims, aluminum pedals, matching gear lever trim and a black headliner and foot support. The oil temperature, lap time and turbocharger boost pressure can be seen on the driver information system.

Confirmed for introduction this year, the RS Q3 is the fourth RS model and follows the RS7, RS6 Avant and RS7 cabriolet as Audi is thinking of taking the lineup of high performance models up to eight.