I saw an X1 in Germany last summer and my immediate gut reaction was to think that it was some kind of Korean vehicle - And not in a good way. It looks better upon increased scrutiny, but it's still a somewhat overwrought looking vehicle. Audi knows how to do low key - and the Q3 mostly seems to hit the mark. Interior is typical Audi goodness. It's my pick.
AUDI vs BMW design is quite analog to VW vs (European) Ford. VW - simple, classy, boring. Ford - dramatic, complex, sporty. Eg. VAG cars hardly have "lost lines". While eg. BMW or Ford etc play with the lines. Different people, different tastes. Some find VW boring & dull, others classy & mature. Ford ... sporty & dramatic to some, vulgar & overdone to others. Both designs selling well. It's all up to personal taste & character.
I would have agreed with that post...............in 2005 but in 2011 Audi is equally as dramatic and sporty and BMW. I would even argue that Audi is the new BMW -- young, fresh, sporty and alternative luxury. Today's spotting of two black S-Line A5s parked 20meter away from my office in trendy Soho, underpinned by observations of Audi as a powerful brand. What was even more unusual is that one of the A5s had a blue police siren hooked on to the roof from the cabin. It was really bad ass to see two undercover Audi A5 of which one even had RS5 rims. From what I see on the streets here the sporty and coolness of Audi is all in the Q7 and A5 which are clearly favoured by the cool kids here. Every other Q7 and A5 either has big rims, white body/black rim combo or something unusual about it. There is so much confidence and attitude in owners of those two cars. One can clearly see that the owners really wanted their specific Audi. The brand is no longer "the third daughter", it's level with BMW and Mercedes. Audi is new school.
^ Like you said ... Audi cars look dramatic in S-line form, with huge rims, LED lights etc. Sure the huge multigonal single-grill, combined with LED DRL lines incorporated in main headlight cluster break the monotony of side profile & especially the droopy rear. But I was talking about lines & panel sculpturing. VAG cars are still very restrained compared to direct rivals. It's a fact. Exotic cars excluded, of course. Nobody says the Audi brand isn't on par with BMW & MB today. In some markets it's already what Audi wishes for in US market: The new luxury.
Restrained describes VW well but not Audi. The simple geometrics of their body shapes paired with a few non-fussy lines makes a powerful impression. BTW Audi's fancy LEDs are no different than BMW's decorative angles eyes or Mercedes cosmetic LEDs. Q7 and A5 owners are personalizing their cars to a great extent. They are truly lifestyle products just like the Range Rover and RR Sport which are probably the most customized cars here in London. A day doesn't pass without me seeing a Range Rover with some unique matte finish, unusual rims or an interesting exterior kit. To the contrary MLs and X5s are as vanilla as could be. Audi's image amongst the young here is truly strong. The 1er Coupe and E46 M3 are the Bimmers with owners sharing mentality with RR Sport and Q7/A5 owners.
OK, it's UK market. Continental markets are still different ... And Audi's huge popularity on the Island also isn't any secret. :t-cheers:
Every single detail is better executed on the Q3, but the overall shapes are just uninspiring. That's why I have to give it to the X1.
I'm still trying to understand why the X1 headlight is directly under the headlight. Looks bad. Both SUVs look good, but I would have to go with the Q3. The X1 looks overdone when next to the Q3.
I don't think Audi has the confidence to do curvaceous, and until they do they will always be second tier. I don't think this cold clinical approach is going to make it. This is a beautiful exercise in precision manufacturing and design that they have done with this Q3, but it is so without emotion. There is no muscle, there is tension, taughtness? but there is no organic musculature.
The X1 is a PREMIUM product thus you can choose or rather "pick and pay". My wife's X1 has REAL brushed aluminium It's an option as is REAL wood. On the Sports steering wheel with shift paddles (option) the metal (trim and paddles) is real, thick and 'cold' to the touch. I will be honest - everything above the the seat bottoms in the X1 is premium quality materials finished in matt and soft touch materials + the trim is an option as explained above. Now there are some nasty plastics that match the Tiguan's under the 'belt'....hard and easily scratched as with the VW Tiguan's bottom part of it's dashboard.
It's interesting how quickly the X1 became so unattractive. It's not aging well at all - and it's only a year or so old. I have the feeling that the dumpy Q3 will suffer the same fate.
I don't know but I like the X3, not just in this comparison but overall, of the BMW family, I like the X3. I think the X3 is sleek, a nice low shape and i think it looks expensive as well, at least it doesn't look like the "lowest" model of a brand. I personally like the X1 over the X3. Compared to the Q3, I still like the X1. I dont' like the fact that it looks like a beefed up A1, the shape isn't sleek, but maybe that's the theme of Audi.
It puzzles me that BMW is capable of developing and producing the rather attractive X3 and X5 while offering the X1 which is far less. It strikes me as a very unfortunate hodge-podge of 1, 3 and the above mentioned X series products. While those products, taken separately, are quite fine, the mess appears to be in the mix-all spiced with a generous dose of poorly executed, tacky details. All the more odd as cars such as the F10/F11, F01, E92 and F12/13 are simply stellar with regard to their aesthetic qualities. Not to mention the very enticing Z4. But as stated above, the BMW badge will be compelling enough on its' own to motivate consumers to pull out their wallets and put their signature on the order form. That recent study that shows how many folks think that the current 1 series is a FWD car speaks volumes.
With all due respect, a BMW could look like a dog-turd and it would still sell well in this country. The South African car market demographic is one of the most skewed and disproportionate in the world; as a general rule - we don't buy for value, we buy the best image we can possibly afford.
