2019 Audi Q3 leaked ahead of official unveiling
Audi’s Q3 cat is out of the bag, with an early reveal of what to expect from the German brand’s more dynamic looking compact luxury SUV.
Just one day ahead of its scheduled official reveal, images of the 2019 Audi Q3 have snuck online, revealing what to expect from the second generation small premium SUV.
UPDATE, 25/7/18: The new Q3 has been officially revealed. Read more here.
As hinted at in an earlier teaser video the new Q3 adopts a look not too far removed from that of the flagship Q8, speedily bringing the Q3’s look up to speed. No hard task given the outgoing model first entered production in 2011.
Up front a more assertive lighting signature with a three-bar LED running light motif gives the Q3 a more expressive face in conjunction with a new irregular octagonal grille. Like the Q8 the smaller Q3 adopts more widely spaced vertical chrome bars for the dominant grille, with two different lower intake themes, filled with more complex detailing.
Under the skin the Q3 moves to the Volkswagen Group’s versatile MQB chassis architecture, shared with cars like the Volkswagen Tiguan, and Audi’s A3, Q2 and new A1 model lines.
Along with hints of Q8, the 2019 Q3 also takes styling elements like the Q2’s more boxy, high-set haunches and gloss black lower cladding plus formal elements from the Q5 including a slightly more upright D-pillar and dropped-corner tail light housings.
Audi has moved away from the previous Q3’s clamshell tailgate and integrated main light housings, instead splitting the rear light housings and adopting a more orthodox cutline for the tailgate.
Interior details encompass Audi’s 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit instrument cluster and large touchscreen infotainment display (in either 8.8-inch or 10-inch formats) set into a new horizontally oriented dash design.
Gone are the current Q3’s flip-up centre screen and low HVAC controls replaced with sleeker, slimmer climate controls and vent outlets. The dash itself gives the impression of added width and the cabin makes use of more premium accents like Alcantara and satin metal highlights across the instrument panel and doors.
With official details still to come, there’s confirmed interior or exterior dimensions, although Motor1.com hints at a 9.65cm longer overall form and 7.6cm longer wheelbase compared to the outgoing model, suggesting expanded passenger and cargo capacities.
The Q3’s engine range is also open to speculation at this point with Europe set to feature a wider range of turbocharged petrol and diesel engines compared to the US which looks to take only Audi’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine with rumoured 140kW and 180kW outputs.
Transmission and drivetrain configurations for Europe will also be wider-ranging with auto and manual transmissions and front- or all-wheel drive variants depending on specification compared to America’s narrower seven-speed S-tronic dual clutch auto and quattro all-wheel drive focus.
Official info is set to follow shortly with Audi having locked in July 25 European time for its formal reveal. Be sure to check CarAdvice for more Q3 info as it comes to hand.
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