Audi RS Q3 : Facelifted performance SUV spied with minor tweaks

The first facelift for Audi's first ever RS-badged SUV, the changes appear to be mild, the biggest difference set to be the RS Q3’s front and rear lights.

Spied through black and white camouflaged swirls, the new LED headlights and tail-lights are tipped to join a mildly tweaked front grille and lightly refreshed bumpers when the revised performance compact SUV is fully unveiled, however, sources suggest this wouldn’t take place before the end of the year.

Though not pictured, the interior is likely to be refreshed to some level, with new trims and colours possible along with the latest in infotainment software - such as Audi's MMI Touch interface.

Performance upgrades to the Audi RS Q3’s 228kW/420Nm 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine – a unit shared with the TTRS coupe – are as yet unknown, however, the powerplant already provides enough hustle to shift the all-paw performance model to 100km/h in a claimed 5.2 seconds.

Starting just shy of $40K above the $42,300 entry-level Q3, the Audi RS Q3 launched locally in February this year priced at $81,900. We wouldn't expect any updated version to arrive in Australia until mid to late 2015 at the earliest.

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