Q3 / RS Q3 Audi Unveils RS Q3 Concept: 2012 Beijing Auto Show

[Deckhook]

I switched deposit from an RS4 Avant to an SQ5, yes I'm losing quite a bit in handling ability and outright performance but I'm gaining a commanding driving position, easier entry and exit and improved economy. The reality is I won't be near the track in either, there's too much police presence to seriously stretch either of them so all the things that make the RS4 a superior driving machine will seldom be experience if at all.

Giannis got it right, these cars are for who wishing for a raise driving position with slightly more than usual sportiness and nothing more.

 

[Levi68]

This is what I fail to see. If I want something big and heavy I get myself M5/E63 or RS6. They can do pretty much everything a SUV can and the cars looks a lot better and drive better.
I can only understand one reason to get a Performance SUV, you sit higher and with greater visibility but its certainly not for the driving experience.

Well my point was not in having a heavy car, just a car that is quite good at everything as a daily car. And the RSQ3 is not cheap, but still much less than an M5, RS6 or E AMG. I just think the RSQ3 gives the small compact SUV appeal that lacks in the standard Q3. X1 is nice, but wouldn't an X1 M35i be even better?

 

[Giannis]

I switched deposit from an RS4 Avant to an SQ5, yes I'm losing quite a bit in handling ability and outright performance but I'm gaining a commanding driving position, easier entry and exit and improved economy. The reality is I won't be near the track in either, there's too much police presence to seriously stretch either of them so all the things that make the RS4 a superior driving machine will seldom be experience if at all.

Giannis got it right, these cars are for who wishing for a raise driving position with slightly more than usual sportiness and nothing more.

Personally, I am a bit narrow minded on what is sporty. I find the weight penalty of modern cars to seriously kill the true sporty experience, which is one of the reasons I am still driving a 22 year old car. It was 850kg when it came out, now it should be around 900kg, as over the years I have added a few kilos of dust on it.

Seriously speaking, though, when the weight of a car is noticable, it gives you a feeling of security, a vault-like sense. It also helps the car stick to the road, according to elementary physics.

 

[Tumbo]

I am one of "those" who want a performance SUV. I want power + the ability to go offroad whenever I can. So, cars like ML63 AMG, SQ5 etc, are what I want. As soon as the SQ5 comes with the petrol version, or even if the RS Q3 comes before, there you go, my next car is here.

 

[Deckhook]

Personally, I am a bit narrow minded on what is sporty. I find the weight penalty of modern cars to seriously kill the true sporty experience, which is one of the reasons I am still driving a 22 year old car. It was 850kg when it came out, now it should be around 900kg, as over the years I have added a few kilos of dust on it.

You sure the extra kilos haven't come from around your wrist. lol

Weight is the one issue that does bug me about modern cars and the reason is none of us are willing to accept life without our creature comforts. But what bugs me even more when cars like the R8 are using lighter materials and yet end up still to be excessively heavy. I remember reading Autocar's article on their development light weight A5 and how different it drove compare to the then normal A5 and thought great, the future is looking a lot brighter.

Seriously speaking, though, when the weight of a car is noticable, it gives you a feeling of security, a vault-like sense. It also helps the car stick to the road, according to elementary physics.

To true, step out of an E39 and into an F10 and it's shocking how much more solid it feels and this is true for all brands compared to models of yesteryear.

 

[Zafiro]

Problem with cars like X1 and Q3 is that they doesnt feel like a SUV. The seat position isnt much better nor is the visibility compare to 1/3-series or A4/A3. Therefore performance SUV in this segment is pointless. I will never ever own a SUV in my entire life.

 

[Tumbo]

I will never ever own a SUV in my entire life.

That's what I always have said. But after buying the Q5, I dont want to drive a low-position car. Therefor, I know to "never say never".

 

[Levi68]

That's what I always have said. But after buying the Q5, I dont want to drive a low-position car. Therefor, I know to "never say never".

You don't want to drive R8?

 

[Tumbo]

You don't want to drive R8?

Oh believe me I do. And I also can afford one, and I've thought about it a long time if to go for a used R8, or a new SQ5. But here in Doha, you have to have a bigger car to get around.
In Europe, it would be a different story

 

[Hofmeister]

I am one of "those" who want a performance SUV. I want power + the ability to go offroad whenever I can. So, cars like ML63 AMG, SQ5 etc, are what I want. As soon as the SQ5 comes with the petrol version, or even if the RS Q3 comes before, there you go, my next car is here.

The standard Q5 (and this applies to the X3 and GLK as well) only do a passable impression of being off-roaders, so a lowered version of one of those would be useless off terra firma. I can just about see how someone could justify a standard Q5 over an A4 Avant, but a lowered version really makes it obsolete IMO. And the Q3 and X1 dont even bother pretending, so I cant see why someone would have a Q3 RS over an RS3/M135i xDrive ( especially considering the latter two are cheaper, more fuel efficient, just as practical, handle far better, and would be better in adverse road conditions.

 

[Deckhook]

^This argument can apply to an M/RS/AMG over the normal version when in most countries have speed limits of less than half what each are capable of. The reason they exist is we like how they make us feel driving them rather than their ability.

I personal like the higher than normal driving position though in most cases the lean too much to enjoy pushing them on, that's where the likes of the performance versions come into the own, it mightn't match the equivalent saloon/estate but again they don't offer the driving position that's so desirable.

 

[Monster]

When the SUV has been lowered to the same ride height as the hatchback it is based on, the talk about "commanding driving position"becomes immaterial.

 

[Deckhook]

When the SUV has been lowered to the same ride height as the hatchback it is based on, the talk about "commanding driving position"becomes immaterial.

I can't speak for the RS Q3 but the SQ5 will still have a higher driving position than an S4 Avant.

 

[Tumbo]

Audi RS Q3 Concept Surfaces in Las Vegas During CES

Do you remember the Audi RS Q3 concept introduced at the Beijing motor show last year? Though just a concept, the car looked strikingly ready for production and was powered by the same 2.5 TFSI engine used in the TT RS and RS 3. Fast forward to the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas this week and the RS Q3 has re-emerged in the city of sin. So what’s the story?

Our intel says Audi is readying this RS-badged crossover for production and that America may be in the cards. A production version is expected later this year following a teaser by quattro GmbH several weeks ago at the RS 5 Cabriolet launch in Monaco. Now, a few shots from mein-auto-blog.de of the matte blue Beijing show car parked rather unceremoniously on a sidewalk island of Las Vegas Boulevard add some intrigue to the story.

It seems that German blog is on a road trip through America and just happened to be on the right time to catch the RS Q3. They theorized that the car was there for a photo shoot ahead of the Detroit Auto Show next week where it **could** be shown. We’re not so sure though. Perhaps it’s there for another reason as the A1 clubsport quattro was on hand, albeit off site, at CES 2012 for several large automotive magazines to test drive. Maybe we’ll be seeing RS Q3 driving impressions in some magazines soon. Thanks QARSI for the tip.

 

[skbmw]

I somehow missed this thread. Oh man, that is one good looking small size SUV. The proportions nail it. Much better then the SQ5. I would have taken the drive to Las Vegas for this but as usual I'm too late...

 

[Tumbo]

I somehow missed this thread. Oh man, that is one good looking small size SUV. The proportions nail it. Much better then the SQ5. I would have taken the drive to Las Vegas for this but as usual I'm too late...

Wow, talk about different tastes. I think the SQ5 looks a million times better then this Q3. And I believe that the proportions of the Q5 or just spot on, while the Q3 looks weird. Well, to each of his own

 

[skbmw]

Wow, talk about different tastes. I think the SQ5 looks a million times better then this Q3. And I believe that the proportions of the Q5 or just spot on, while the Q3 looks weird. Well, to each of his own

Indeed, that's what we are doing here. Expressing our opinions...

 

[IanDriver]

For me, this concept looks much better than SQ5 but this RSQ3 is simply beautiful for me. I love it.