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Powerful Elegance: the Audi Q3 Sportback

Bili

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Low roofline, muscular body: the design

The Audi Q3 Sportback stands for strength and precision to an equal degree, and reflects this in all design details. The black grille of the octagonal Singleframe is strongly three-dimensional in design, and this makes it particularly sporty. The same applies for the trapezoidal air inlets and the expressive bumper with its flat blade. The coupé-like passenger cabin acts as a contrast to the distinctive attachments, which are painted in contrasting colors and thus emphasize the SUV character. The low roofline gives way to flat D‑pillars and ends in a roof edge spoiler. As a result, the Audi Q3 Sportback appears much longer than its sister model Q3. In addition, the SUV-coupé is almost three centimeters flatter, and thus has a more muscular appearance. Above the wheels, strong contours draw attention to the quattro drive, which comes as standard with most engines. Many light and shadow effects arise on the plastic-formed rear. The low window, flanked by aero trims, and the sporty bumper, which takes up the look of the air inlets, emphasize the width of the Audi Q3 Sportback. The reversing lights contribute to this as well: they run inwards in a tapered shape, just like the flat headlights. Audi supplies the latter in three versions up to Matrix LED technology, whose adaptive high beam intelligently illuminates the road as best suits the driving situation.

Sporty on and off the road: the suspension

The Audi Q3 Sportback offers driving fun on various terrains. In the city, on long-haul routes, or on easy terrain – the compact crossover is a dynamic all-rounder. It features progressive steering as standard, whose gear ratio becomes increasingly direct as the steering angle increases, and the sport suspension.
On request, the suspension is available with damper control, which further increases the range between dynamism and comfort. Depending on the driving situation, road condition, and personal preferences, the driver can vary the car’s characteristics via the standard dynamic handling system, Audi drive select, in six profiles, including the offroad mode. In addition to the engine and transmission set-up, this system also influences the electronically adjustable shock absorbers and the steering assistance. As an option, the hill descent control can offer support: it keeps the speed selected by the driver constant on an incline greater than 6%.
TFSI, TDI, S tronic, quattro: the drive

For the market launch in Europe, a gasoline and a diesel engine are available for selection for the Audi Q3 Sportback. With 169 kW (230 metric hp), the 2.0 TFSI is the most powerful engine (Audi Q3 Sportback 45 TFSI quattro S tronic: Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km *: 7.7 - 7.3 (30.5 - 32.2 US mpg); combined CO2 emissions in g/km*: 174 - 166 (280.0 - 267.2 g/mi)). The 2.0 TDI has an output of 110 kW (150 metric hp) (Audi Q3 Sportback 35 TDI S tronic: Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km*: 4.9 - 4.7 (48.0 - 50.0 US mpg); combined CO2 emissions in g/km*: 129 - 123 (207.6 - 197.9 g/mi)). Shortly after market launch, it will also be available as a manual transmission with a quattro drive. Additional engines will follow in the course of the year, including a more powerful diesel and an entry-level gasoline engine, which works together with a 48 V mild-hybrid system. During deceleration, it recovers energy; during acceleration from low speeds, it supports the engine. In real-life driving, it can save up to 0.4 l of fuel per 100 km (62.1 mi).
In the top engines, the quattro all-wheel drive takes on the job of force transmission as standard. Its central component is a hydraulic multi-plate clutch on the rear axle. Its electronic management combines outstanding stability and strong traction with a high level of driving enjoyment. At the limits of performance, the quattro drive works closely together with the wheel-selective torque control, It makes handling even more dynamic and stable by means of gentle brake interventions on the inside wheels with the quattro drive and the inside front wheel with the front drive.

Variable comfort: Interior and space concept

The Audi Q3 Sportback is 4.50 m (14.8 ft) long, 1.84 m (6.0 ft) wide and 1.56 m (5.1 ft) high; its wheelbase measures 2.68 m (8.8 ft). This results in a large and highly variable interior. The rear seats offer space for three people. They can be moved 130 mm (5.1 in) longitudinally as standard; their backrests are divided into three sections, and their inclination can be adjusted in seven stages. The volume of the luggage compartment ranges from 530 l (18.7 cu ft) to 1,400 l (49.4 cu ft). The loading floor can be adjusted to two levels, and the rear shelf is located beneath it. As an option, Audi will deliver an electric tailgate that can also be opened and closed with a foot motion. The front seats – electrically adjustable and heated on request – offer a sporty position and a high level of comfort. Depending on the equipment, there are sport seats with contrasting stitching and colored stripes along the side panels.
In addition, Alcantara surfaces on the instrument panel and the armrests emphasize the progressive design philosophy. In the dark, the optional contour/ambient lighting package sets lighting accents with its 30 selectable colors.

Digital world: Displays and operation

The operating and display concept proves how Audi is pushing ahead with digitalization: Even the basic equipment includes a digital instrument cluster with a 10.25-inch screen diagonal, which the driver operates using the multifunction steering wheel. In the top-of-the-line system, MMI navigation plus, the displays appear in the Audi virtual cockpit, which offers many additional functions. A touch display measuring 10.1 inches is positioned in the center of the instrument panel. When a function is selected, it emits acoustic feedback. Just like in the brand’s full-size class models, it is surrounded by wide, high-gloss black trim. Together with the air-conditioning control unit located beneath it, the display is ergonomically tilted 10° towards the driver. On request, the 12.3-inch Audi virtual cockpit plus is available with three selectable layouts, including a particularly dynamic view.
The flat menu structure is complemented by a control unit that uses natural language and can also understand free wordings. Entering a navigation destination and the MMI search are based on free text input. The system recognizes the driver’s most frequent destinations based on previous journeys, allowing it to generate suitable suggestions. When doing so, it takes into consideration statistical empirical values regarding the traffic load and time of day.

Powerful Elegance: the Audi Q3 Sportback

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Freshforged

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Interesting to see how Dodge plans on making a splash in this market—they risk being too little too late with all the delays.
 

Bili

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Dodge against this? Not sure. This is a market for future Alfa Tonale which BTW fro what I've heard may be postponed by 6 months.

And this is a coupeish SUV. Whatever that means. They are not popular in US. Europe is their primarily market.

Even if Dodge came to this market or maybe a Chrysler (Fiat Fastback???) branded model I doubt it will come before the Tonale. From what I've heard Tonale is the first car on Small Wide which will receive updates. OK, here is maybe to much speculation, to much "what if".
 

Freshforged

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Dodge against this? Not sure. This is a market for future Alfa Tonale which BTW fro what I've heard may be postponed by 6 months.

And this is a coupeish SUV. Whatever that means. They are not popular in US. Europe is their primarily market.

Even if Dodge came to this market or maybe a Chrysler (Fiat Fastback???) branded model I doubt it will come before the Tonale. From what I've heard Tonale is the first car on Small Wide which will receive updates. OK, here is maybe to much speculation, to much "what if".
I’m thinking Dodges upcoming small suv must be something along these lines, not as upscale (starting anyway) but even more aggressive. My guess is we’ll see a return of the Magnums chamfered hatch rather than the fastback seen above, and it might be a tad larger in each dimension, but if they do it right, it should take sales from multiple markets.
 

Bili

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I’m thinking Dodges upcoming small suv must be something along these lines, not as upscale (starting anyway) but even more aggressive. My guess is we’ll see a return of the Magnums chamfered hatch rather than the fastback seen above, and it might be a tad larger in each dimension, but if they do it right, it should take sales from multiple markets.


What is a small SUV. Form factor of a... can you compare it with something?

But as I said Coupe-SUV models are not particularly successful in US. It seems that US public wants boxy design. And I agree with it to some extent. Boxy design in the first place gives more cargo room according to US standards in comparison to European where cargo room is measure only to a parcel shelf.
Aerodynamic with boxy design? AFAIK new X3 has by far the lowest measured/actual Cx in the whole class. Real 0.29 while most competitors are in around 0.33 if not worse and that includes Stelvio. So, yes, it's doable. But Stelvio looks nicer to me.
 

Freshforged

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What is a small SUV. Form factor of a... can you compare it with something?

But as I said Coupe-SUV models are not particularly successful in US. It seems that US public wants boxy design. And I agree with it to some extent. Boxy design in the first place gives more cargo room according to US standards in comparison to European where cargo room is measure only to a parcel shelf.
Aerodynamic with boxy design? AFAIK new X3 has by far the lowest measured/actual Cx in the whole class. Real 0.29 while most competitors are in around 0.33 if not worse and that includes Stelvio. So, yes, it's doable. But Stelvio looks nicer to me.
I would imagine it would split the difference between the current Journey (which was ment to swing to the practical side) and the current Stelio hwhich is much more fluid in shape than I imagine the Dodge will be. If they can’t fit the hemi (would be surprised if they could) then I imagine the upcoming strait six would be the requirement of the engine bay size. Longitudinal layout with RWD bias.
 

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