Mid-year launch for Audi Q3

Due on sale in the middle of the year, the much-anticipated baby brother to the Q5 and the Q7, the Q3 will arrive toting a three different four-cylinder engines, two- and four-wheel drive and a startling array of options.

To be launched with two petrol four-cylinder engines and a diesel four pot, the Q3's abilities will range from running to 100km/h in 6.9 seconds with the 155kW range-topping flagship to sipping just 5.2 litres/100km with the thriftiest 103kW 2.0-litre TDI.

In between, there will be a 125kW TFSI petrol motor and a 130kW 2.0-litre TDI diesel, and all Q3s will be turbo-charged, have direct injection and use energy recuperation and start-stop as standard. Even the most humble motor will boast 280Nm of torque, while the strongest of the diesels will have 380Nm.

Based around the steel monocoque structure from the Volkswagen Tiguan, the Q3 uses lighter aluminium for the bonnet and wrap-around hatch and will fit into far tighter spots than its big brothers, with a total length of 4.39 metres.

Still very much an Audi in its design language inside and out, it's also 1.6 metres high (including standard roof rails) and 1.83 metres wide, while the lightest version (the front-drive petrol version) weighs less than 1500kg.

While the basic front-drive petrol and diesel units use six-speed manual gearboxes and ride on 16-inch wheels and tyres, the more-powerful all-wheel drive versions use the slick seven-speed S-Tronic double-clutch gearbox.

Its off-road abilities won't be anything like as sophisticated as Range Rover's upcoming Evoque or the current Land Rover Freelander, but with 170mm of ground clearance, the Q3 promises to match its German competition.

Like them, it uses electronics to control its drive in difficult terrain instead of mechanical systems. There will be an electronic differential lock on the rear axle, which uses the ESP and traction control systems to maximize its grip, while a hill-hold assist system will be available on request and a hill descent control system will arrive in later models.

There is a MacPherson strut front suspension and a new four-link rear suspension , while it also uses electro-mechanical power steering system to improve accuracy and reduce fuel consumption.

While the base models will arrive with 16-inch alloy wheels, the more-powerful models will have 17-inch alloys and Audi will allow up to 19-inch wheels – though if history is any guide, they won't ride as well on the larger boots.

Built at Martorell, near Barcelona in Spain, the base Q3 will retain for e29,990 in Germany.

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