Audi upgrades its Q3 baby SUV

Audi will rely on styling, equipment packages and new trims to keep its Q3 baby SUV a hot seller when it launches in Europe later this year.

Expected on sale by early 2017 in Australia -- where the range-topping RS Q3 performance finally goes on sale later this month and the all-new Q2 arrives early next year -- the upgrades to the Q3 are, so far, purely cosmetic, with no changes claimed by Audi for the family of petrol and diesel powertrains.

Audi will introduce a new model, dubbed the Q3 S Line competition (pictured), and Audi has confirmed it will be available with any engine in the Q3’s arsenal.

The most obvious fiddle to the entry-level Audi SUV will be the new front end styling, which will see the headlights linked directly to the restyled grille with a matt grey panel, while the new, large air intakes on either side of the grille will be broken up by a horizontal, body-coloured lip.

There’s a matte silver sump protector, diamond-pattern inserts in the air intakes and grey extensions over the wheel arches.

Before you get carried away and pull out the credit card while dialing up the local Audi dealer, though, the styling upgrade will mostly benefit the more expensive models, with the more stock models scoring a more modest visual upgrade.

It’s an indication that Audi will rely on new “lines” or equipment and styling packages instead of a huge range of options to help differentiate its models.

The headliner will be the S Line Competition, which is an odd name to give something that will never compete in anything other than a sales race.

Besides the exterior changes, the S Line Competition will receive power-operated sports seats with a cloth-leather trim combination, though alcantara and leather are both optional (at least in Germany).

It will use a flat-bottomed steering wheel, clad in leather, and the two-pedal dual-clutch models will use stainless steel pedal and footrest caps.

The new model will get the drive select handling fiddler as a standard fit, plus it will ride on stock 19-inch, 10-spoke alloy wheels.