GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: Audi Q2 teased again in new video

Audi has once again teased its all-new Q2 baby SUV ahead of its official public debut at the Geneva motor show next week.

This time round, the video released last night shows the small SUV being driven on dirt towards a camera car.

Unfortunately, our effort to catch a proper early look of the production Q2 is thwarted by a cameraman shooting into the sun. Then, just as the little Q2 approaches, an artificial flare obscures everything.

Before that, we can just make out the merest glimpse of what looks like a shrunken Q3 with prominent T-shaped daytime running LEDs.

From earlier spy shots we also know the Q2 will be a small five-door wagon with a sharp, rising shoulder crease, a surprisingly low ride height and ‘fast’ front and rear windscreens.

Underneath the Q2’s new skin is the Volkswagen Group’s MQB platform, which means the newest Audi SUV won’t be based on the same platform as the A1 (which is VW Polo-based).

This should mean the Q2 will offer more space and thanks to the stiffer, lighter body and availability of multi-link rear-suspension it should out-drive the small A1, although cost implications could see the Q2 share the less sophisticated torsion-beam set-up used by less powerful Volkswagen Golfs.

Under the bonnet, the small Audi is bound to come with the VW’s 1.0-litre, 1.2-litre and 1.4-litre turbo-petrol engines, plus a single 2.0-litre turbo-diesel, all of which will be available with either a six-speed manual or the German car-maker’s seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Following the surprising success of the Audi RS Q3, a fast version of the Q2 might also make an appearance shortly after the launch.

If so, the SQ2 is almost certain to come with the 170kW/370Nm turbocharged 2.0-litre engine from the Audi S1. With that level of power and torque, plus the traction-enhancing benefits of the firm’s quattro all-wheel drive, the hottest SQ2 should sprint to 100km/h in less than seven seconds and top out at around a limited 250km/h.

When the Q2 arrives, think of it a more premium (read expensive) rival to the Renault Captur and the Nissan JUKE that helped establish the segment.

Hoever, just when you Audi might have been running low on niche segments to plug, the German car-maker will then launch a Q1 SUV-coupe.

A similar, shrunken BMW X6-style SUV will also be introduced to bridge the gap between the Q3 and Q5 too.

Release timescales for the Q2 are expected to be confirmed at the Swiss car show, but the small SUV should be on sale by next year.

The Q2 is expected to command a hefty premium over the current A1, with prices kicking off at around $35,000 for the 1.0-litre turbo petrol-powered Q2.