Locally assembled Audi Q3 to be priced at Rs 25 lakh
The Audi Q3 will now have a cheaper price tag. Audi India's Managing Director Michael Perschke has announced that the German luxury car maker plans to position the Indian CKD-assembled Q3 at a price point of Rs 25 lakh.
At this price, the SUV will be the cheapest luxury car in Audi's India lineup. Local assembly of the Q3 is estimated to start a few months from now, with the imported CKD parts being put together at Audi's production unit in Aurangabad.
Though the Q3's base variant for the international market comes with a 2-litre TDI engine that delivers 140PS/320Nm, a 6 speed manual transmission and front wheel drive, it may not be the one sold in India. The Q3 could carry on with the Quattro technology, 2 litre TDI engines (170PS/350Nm) and the 7-speed dual clutch automatic transmission. Audi also offers the 211PS/300Nm 2.0-litre TFSI engine for the Q3 in India, prices of which start from Rs 27.37 lakh ex-Maharashtra.
The CBU units of the Q3's entry-level variant are currently priced at Rs 27.21 lakhs, ex-showroom Delhi. The CKD-assembled Q3 will have lower import duties and this will allow Audi to retain the higher engine spec, while also enjoy cost savings. Audi's plans to attract buyers of other luxury SUVs/crossovers into its fold seems to be in place with this move. The company recently announced an attractive finance scheme for the Q3 which, if carried forward to the CKD models, would make owning the SUV even easier.
However, the Q3 may not be the cheapest attraction in Audi's arsenal for too long. In 2014, Audi plans to launch the entry-level A3 sedan. The A3 will be the first MQB-based Audi model to be launched in India.