Having previously announced the imminent arrival of the A6 and A7 facelift, sources from Audi Malaysia have also said that the refreshed Audi Q3 will be joining the lineup later this year.
Just as before, the Q3 will be offered with two engine options – a 1.4-litre TFSI or 2.0-litre TFSI Quattro. The smaller engine powering this compact SUV is currently offered at a sub-RM220k price tag and produces 150 hp from 5,000 to 6,000 rpm and 250 Nm of torque from 1,500 to 3,500 rpm. Power is sent to the front wheels only via a six-speed S tronic automatic transmission.
The larger 2.0-litre TFSI unit on the other hand, has two states of tunes; a 180 hp and 320 Nm or the 220 hp and 350 Nm configuration, both of which will send drive to all four wheels via Audi’s Quattro system through a seven-speed S tronic automatic transmission. The 1.4 TFSI manages the century sprint in a brisk 8.9 seconds before topping out at 204 km/h, whereas the 2.0 TFSI (180 hp) does it in 7.6 seconds and 217 km/h respectively.
There’s not much going on for a facelift to be honest, but you can always expect a refresh in styling if Audi is the subject at hand. Things new to the Q3 are the bi-xenon headlights that come with a redesigned LED daytime running lights as standard (LED headlights optional), the new Singleframe ‘3D’ grille with extra bits of chrome, various wheel design choices ranging from 16-inch to 20-inch and a new pair of LED tail lights.
Inside remains relatively unchanged, and the Q3 still comes with Audi’s Multi Media Interface (MMI) built just underneath the centre air-conditioning vents. The system supports multiple connectivity if customers opt for the Audi Connect system, granting handsfree call function, GPS navigation, voice control and internet accessibility via the integrated WiFi hotspot.
Also worth mentioning here is the RS Q3, but let’s first come to terms that this variant will not be making its way here. It’s powered by a 2.5-litre five-cylinder TFSI engine (also shared with the RS3) but is tuned to make 340 hp and 450 Nm of torque, compared to the RS3’s 367 hp and 465 Nm of AMG-beating numbers.
Despite meeting the stringent Euro 6 emissions standard, the range topping Q3 variant accelerates from standstill to 100 km/h in a blistering 4.8 seconds before reaching an electronically limited 250 km/h. It also gets Audi’s Quattro system, and the seven-speed S tronic dual clutch automatic transmission.
Besides what lies underneath the hood, the RS Q3 gets appropriate RS-exclusive styling, like the restyled front bumper with larger intake scoops, standard 19-inch alloy wheels and a new rear bumper with built-in diffusers. The side mirrors are also finished in satin aluminium.
The outgoing Audi Q3 is priced marginally below the RM220k and RM260k mark for the 1.4 TFSI and 2.0 TFSI respectively. If you wish to find out more about Audi’s baby SUV, do stay tuned!
IMAGE GALLERY
Audi Q3 Facelift
Audi RS Q3 Facelift
