Q3 / RS Q3 [Spy Shots] (2025) Audi Q3

[SKY]

Audi is at its lowest point in modern history. The brand just sucks.

 

[klier]

Audi is at its lowest point in modern history. The brand just sucks.

On the other hand, the reflection off the fake Audi plastic logo is so bad you don't even know what car it is. Could be anything really.

 

[Design FIRST]

It is simply bewildering as to just how seriously Audi's Ingolstadt design center has lost the plot. Difficult for me to comprehend.

I can only hope that this design concept due for presentation at the IAA in Munich offers some genuine signs of salvation. Audi designs have become so stale that no stone should be left unturned.

 

[grdlow]

It has nothing to do with an Audi anymore. Looks Korean or Chinese.

Even Korean (KIA Sorento) and Chinese suvs (Zeekr 7X, NIO ES6) look better

 

[Tuffode]

better design than X2 ?

Yes, but that is a super low bar.

 

[Jonathan19]

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[Fastpaddy]

looks like a ford

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

It is simply bewildering as to just how seriously Audi's Ingolstadt design center has lost the plot. Difficult for me to comprehend.

Bewildering indeed. That rear end is revolting.

 

[Gor134]

Whole car is revolting imo. At least interior looks better than any of the PPE/PPC products.

 

[Gor134]

I can't believe that black trim doesn't extend up to the top of the headlight and just randomly stops before the top. Looks so off.

 

[Swissbob]

Whole car is revolting imo. At least interior looks better than any of the PPE/PPC products.

Still very cheap.

This is the first time in the last 30yrs, that there’s no Audi on the market I’d like to own.

In the 90‘s we had the RS2, S6 Plus, S8, S4 2.7, A8 W12, RS4, in the 00s the RS6, R8, TT RS,RS3, Q7 V12 TDi, and so on.

Currently the Q7/Q8 are fine, but already very old.

The RS6 GT was the last exiting Audi.

 

[empower77]

It has nothing to do with an Audi anymore. Looks Korean or Chinese.

I mean you could argue that Korean designs are more German than before thanks to the defection of key decision makers from Audi and BMW to Hyundai/ Kia

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Still very cheap.

This is the first time in the last 30yrs, that there’s no Audi on the market I’d like to own.

In the 90‘s we had the RS2, S6 Plus, S8, S4 2.7, A8 W12, RS4, in the 00s the RS6, R8, TT RS,RS3, Q7 V12 TDi, and so on.

Currently the Q7/Q8 are fine, but already very old.

The RS6 GT was the last exiting Audi.

Agreed. There is NOTHING that Audi is doing or offering that would have you look away from BMW or Mercedes IMO.

 

[martinbo]

Agreed. There is NOTHING that Audi is doing or offering that would have you look away from BMW or Mercedes IMO.

But that’s always been the case barring a handful of exceptions such as the R8, RS4, RS6.

 

[Gor134]

But that’s always been the case barring a handful of exceptions such as the R8, RS4, RS6.

Disagree with that.. the initial MLB era following the R8 produced very strong cars like the B8, C7, and D4 lines, and moved Audi as a brand forward

 

[martinbo]

Disagree with that.. the initial MLB era following the R8 produced very strong cars like the B8, C7, and D4 lines, and moved Audi as a brand forward

Each to their own. For my money, none of the product lines you mention would pull me to purchasing these over the equivalent BMW or Mercedes.

 

[Gor134]

For my money, none of the product lines you mention would pull me to purchasing these over the equivalent BMW or Mercedes.

I chose my B8.5 over the equivalent F31 chassis Generally, and personally, not a fan of most F-Chassis BMWs. I prefer the Es and Gs.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

But that’s always been the case barring a handful of exceptions such as the R8, RS4, RS6.

Audi used to offer an understated Bauhaus inspired design idiom with a different approach to designing, engineering and building things.

They just had a different appeal to me, and at one point in the early 2000's, really did seem to be making inroads into establishing themselves shoulder to shoulder with BMW and MB, in all respects.

2014 onwards is when things really started slowing for them, to the point where they now seem to be stumbling from one 'direction' to another.

 

[martinbo]

Audi used to offer an understated Bauhaus inspired design idiom with a different approach to designing, engineering and building things.

They just had a different appeal to me, and at one point in the early 2000's, really did seem to be making inroads into establishing themselves shoulder to shoulder with BMW and MB, in all respects.

2014 onwards is when things really started slowing for them, to the point where they now seem to be stumbling from one 'direction' to another.

Yip, that's pretty much my view too. I vividly remember Audi's surge to contention with MB and BMW in the mid nineties (B6 A4) and early 2000's (B7) because this was where the market was at its most exciting. Premium compact sedans like the 3er, C-Class and A4 were all the rage before the SUV craze hit.

In my circle of friends, it was very much a "VAG is where it's at" bunch. Golf 4s, Audi A3s, Audi A4s, Jettas... and invariably the 1.8T derivatives which took the market by storm. Turbocharging for the masses had arrived. The lust factor culminated in B7 RS4 - a car to this day I wish I'd owned. So many other manufacturers wanted a slice of the premium compact sedan pie: Alfa's 156, Jaguar with its Mondeo-based X-Type, Lexus IS... it was a fun time for the segment. And during this time the B7 A4 - despite being FWD - was right in the mix with its German rivals.

The advent of the premium compact SUV signalled the decline of the above segment; outright vehicle dynamics became less important to the average buyer - the greater versatility of the SUV concept cannibalised sales from the once untouchable premium compact sedan.
And with that, some interesting things started to happen - quality focus shifted from sedans to SUVs - and the sedan diehards were purveyed with stiffer (dressed up as "sportier") and less comfortable models with a greater emphasis on handling with the next generations in B8, E90 and W204.

With this change in focus to accomodate X3, GLK/C and - a bit later - Q5, I feel that Audi started to slip in areas such as distinctiveness and desirability. Again, barring a few niche and invariably expensive models. Once my love affair with Subaru had kicked the bucket entirely, there wasn't a single occassion where I'd considered an Audi for my company cars, my wife's family car or something sporty for the weekend.

 

[klier]

I chose my B8.5 over the equivalent F31 chassis