New Audi Q3 review, test drive

Audi’s foray into SUVs started with that Bollywood favourite, the seven-seat Q7. Then came the Q5, which offered much of what we loved in the big Q7, but in a five-seat package. The company’s latest offering, the Q3, is its smallest SUV yet, so can we expect more of the same? We have been driving it in Goa and here are our first impressions of the baby SUV.
Audi is taking a different route, at least at launch, from the one BMW took with its X1. While the Bimmer is equipped and specified to offer the best price possible, the Q3 aims to deliver the full Audi experience. As a result, the Indian-spec model is fully-loaded with kit and looks and feels as good as any of its bigger siblings on the inside. It also gets Audi’s Quattro four-wheel-drive system as standard, while the BMW is rear-wheel drive only.

Fact File

Engine

Fuel	Diesel
Power	174bhp/4200rpm
Torque	38.74kgm 1750-2500rpm

Transmission

Gearbox

7speed S tronic DCT

Dimensions

Length	4385mm
Width	1831mm
Height	1602mm

Suspension

Front	McPherson struts with aluminum lower wishbones
Rear	Four-link rear suspension with separate spring/shock absorber arrangement

Brakes

Front	Dual circuit brake system (Ventilated)
Rear	solid discs

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Fact File

Price Range (in lakhs)*

Ex-showroom price

Rs 7-9 lakh Ex-showroom (estimated)

Engine

Fuel	Petrol / Diesel
Installation	Front, transverse, front-wheel drive
Type	4 cyls in-line, 1373cc, petrol/ 4 cyls in-line, 1248cc, turbo-diesel
Power	93.8bhp at 6000rpm/ 88.5bhp at 4000rpm
Torque	13.25kgm at 4000rpm/ 20.39kgm at 1750rpm

Transmission

Gearbox

5-speed manual

Dimensions

Length	4265mm
Width	1695mm
Height	1685mm
Wheel base	2740mm
Ground clearance	185mm

Chassis & Body

Weight	1160kg/1235kg
Wheels	15inch
Tyres	185/65 R15

Suspension

Front	Independent, MacPherson struts
Rear	Non-independent, torsion beam

Steering

Type	Rack and pinion
Type of power assist	Electric assist

Brakes

Front	Ventilated discs
Rear	Drums

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Fact File

Price Range (in lakhs)*

Ex-showroom price

Rs 23.53 lakh (ex-Delhi)

Engine

Fuel	Diesel
Installation	Front, longitudinal, four wheel-drive
Power	176bhp at 4000rpm
Torque	40.78kgm at 2000-2500rpm

Transmission

Gearbox

5-speed manual

Dimensions

Length	4695mm
Width	1815mm
Height	1840mm

Chassis & Body

Tyres

265/65R17

Suspension

Front	Independent, double wishbone, coil springs, stabiliser bar
Rear	non-independent, 3-link, coil springs, stabiliser bar

Brakes

Front	Ventilated disc
Rear	Solid discs

Performance

0-20	1.64
0-40	3.46
0-60	5.63
0-80	8.84
0-100	12.45
0-120	18.04
0-140	25.06

Acceleration in gear

20-80kph in 3rd gear	12.56sec
40-100kph in 4th gear	16.04sec

Economy

Tank size

70-litres

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Chevrolet Cruze facelift revealed

Audi Q3 launch by June confirmed

Audi’s long awaited Q3 will finally be in Indian showrooms by June this year. Audi will initially offer a fully loaded, all-wheel drive version powered by a four-cylinder, 2.0-litre, 177bhp diesel with plans to launch a 2.0-litre direct-injection petrol variant circa September. Expect the diesel Q3 to be priced at around Rs 26-28 lakh.

We drove the diesel in Zurich last year and initial impressions point at a soft-roader that’s adequately quick, reasonably spacious and built to Audi’s high standards. We did find the diesel a tad noisy when revved though. The Q3 has one crucial advantage over its direct rival, the BMW X1. Where the X1 looks like a hopped up Estate, the Q3 has proper SUV proportions – something that’s sure to appeal to Indian customers.

  autocar

Hyundai i20 facelift revealed

Hyundai showcases its i20 facelift at the Geneva Motor Show. The refreshed i20 gets a light dose of Hyundai’s latest fluidic sculpture design language which is clearly seen in the front styling. The headlights are slimmer and the grille is hexagonal.
The front bumper is completely new with re-styled housings for the fog lamps and a much-wider chin. The hood design is also updated possibly due to the new EU crash-test regulations. Styling changes to the rear include a new bumper and re-profiled tail lamps. It also gets new alloy-wheel designs. The updated i20 also features minor tweaks to the interiors.
For the international markets, the i20 will be unveiled with its new 1.1-litre, 3-cylinder ‘U-II’ diesel engine that generates 74bhp. When mated to Hyundai’s Blue Drive technologies, this derivative emits just 84 g/km of CO2 - a figure lower than any other car with a conventional powertrain. This 3-cylinder motor was developed at Hyundai’s Diesel Centre of Excellence – part of the European R&D set-up in Rüsselsheim, Germany – and showcases it’s expertise in clean diesel technology.
by autocar

Geneva Motor Show

by autocarindia