Audi to start production of Q1 crossover in 2016
What we already knew and had told you before has just now been confirmed by Audi. The German luxury car manufacturer says that they are looking at producing the smallest SUV in their upcoming portfolio, the Q1 at Ingolstadt. The manufacturing process will start from 2016. The Q1 will be based on the new modular transverse engine platform and will most probably have front wheel drive. Audi's fabled Quattro may or may not be offered as an option depending on the demands from the market. Apart from this, the company hasn't revealed much details about the Q1. Audi currently has the Q3 at the lowest pecking order in the Q series. The company also has plans to make sportier coupe versions of the Q family, a la BMW. This in effect means that there will be a Q4, Q6 and also a Q8. Out of these, only the Q8 will use a MLB platform meant for bigger and heavier vehicles while the others will continue with the MQB base like the Q1. The Q8 will also share its architecture with the upcoming Bentley SUV.
Image of the Audi Crosslane coupe used as reference
Audi is expected to showcase the Q2 crossover sometime in 2015 and it will have the same engines as the Q3. There is also a fat chance that Audi may put in the Jetta's 1.4 TSI engine as a money spinner option. By 2020, Audi expects to expand its automobile product range from the current 49 to around 60. Audi started with crossovers in 2006 with the big brute Q7. The Q5, Audi says, is its largest selling model. On our shores though, it is the Q3 which is the star.
"The Audi Q1 is part of our broad-based SUV strategy. It is designed on the basis of the modular transverse engine concept and will round off our Q series at the bottom end," stated Rupert Stadler, chairman of the board of management of AUDI AG
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