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What could very well be India’s most affordable premium vehicle, the Audi Q2, was unveiled at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show this March. The Q2 is now the smallest SUV in Audi’s line-up and will compete in a space below its own Q3 and rivals Mercedes’ GLA and BMW’s X1. Audi says the Q2 is aimed at young urban drivers and hopes it will draw new customers to the brand with its fresh design.
Of significance to India, is the fact that in the absence of the A3 hatch, the Q2 could form Audi’s entry point into the brand and thus compete with the Mercedes A-class and the BMW 1-series. Having SUV credentials up against hatchbacks in SUV-loving India will be the ace up Audi’s sleeve and should negate the slightly higher pricing it is likely to come with. The Q2 is not expected to be priced far lower than the Q3 as it features a lot of Audi tech, and the next-generation Q3 due next year will also move a bit higher up the ladder anyway.
For our market, Audi India is evaluating the long-wheel-base version being developed for China. Rear legroom in the current car is quite poor and could be a deal breaker in the Indian luxury market.
Our sources have indicated that another benefit of the China-based model would be the fact that parts imported from VW China are about 15 percent cheaper than those brought in from Europe. This lower cost, along with the reduction in subsequent duties and taxes, would make for a healthy price benefit. In fact, VW has sourced Chinese parts for its India operations like the drive shafts for the current Polo. Also helping the India-bound Q2’s case is local assembly of the 2.0 TDI engine (code EA288) from next year. This could dramatically bring down the costs to make the Q2 viable for the Indian market. “Getting the correct price point is a struggle but somehow we have to bring this car to the Indian market”, said an Audi source.
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The Q2 is the first Audi that new design chief Marc Lichte has been involved with. While it is based on the A3 that uses the MQB platform, the Q2 is the beginning of the next generation of Audi design which is much edgier than before. The Q2’s front has a new single-frame grille with polygonal details – a feature that will adopted for all Q cars - and headlights that are slightly more squared off than those of recent Audis. There’s also an R8-style blade on the C-pillar that can be had in different colours and changed by customers. The tail-lights also show a new design.
On the size front, the vehicle is 1,508mm tall and 2,009mm wide. The overhangs are short and the vehicle length is 4,191mm with a wheelbase of 2,595mm. The Q2 is fairly light at 1,205kg, just about 15kg heavier than an Avventura.
While the interiors are all new, they do bear the typical Audi signature and the resemblance to other cars from the carmaker’s stables is pretty obvious. Connectivity, infotainment and assistance systems come from the full-size class and the Q2 features an MMI screen controlled by a rotary/push-button control and two buttons on the centre tunnel, a Wi-Fi hotspot from an embedded SIM card and a power opening and closing tailgate. Audi’s virtual cockpit is also present and the 12.3-inch screen offers two display modes, one focuses on the tachometer and speedometer, and the other emphasises infotainment and/or navigation data. Additionally, a heads-up display can project information like navigation data, the vehicle speed and warning messages onto a glass panel in the driver’s direct visual field. Audi Pre-Sense on the Q2 recognises critical situations with other vehicles as well as pedestrians crossing in front of the vehicle, and if necessary, it can initiate braking to a standstill at low speeds.
Other systems in the line-up include adaptive cruise control with Stop & Go function, traffic jam assist, the lane-departure warning system, Audi side assist, the lane-keeping assistant, Audi active lane assist, traffic sign recognition and parking and rear cross-traffic assist. Some of these features, however, may not find their way to India due to costs, road conditions and as radar usage restrictions for passenger cars in India are not clear.
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Apart from the tight rear legroom, the Q2 is fairly roomy on the inside and features seating for five. The luggage compartment can handle 405 litres of cargo and the capacity can be increased to 1,050 litres with the rear seat-back folded. The driver sits in a sporty, low position thanks to the steering wheel sitting low relative to the seats but visibility is more SUV-like thanks to the overall higher seating from the ground.
Audi says the Q2 can venture off-road and the ESC system has an off-road mode. Ground clearance is 200mm which is not spectacular but puts the Q2 in off-roader territory. Adding to this, is Audi’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system that can be had with the Q2. The Audi also has the drive select handling system that lets the driver chose between four modes: Auto, Comfort, Dynamic and Efficiency. The two-wheel-drive versions of the Q2 are front-wheel driven and have a semi-independent suspension at the rear, while the Quattro models have a four-link rear suspension setup. Front suspension is the traditional McPherson struts in both drive models.
Internationally, three TFSI and three TDI engines are offered, ranging from 1.0 to 2.0-litre capacities, while the 1.4-litre TFSI engine is likely for India. And though the diesel range starts with the 1.6-litre TDI, India is likely to get the 2.0-litre unit. Gearbox options include both, manual and Audi’s dual clutch automatic boxes and Indian customers are likely to be offered this choice too.
The Q2 could have a lot of potential in India if Audi prices it right. It would be the entry point on the luxury car ladder which would give Audi a crucial advantage over its rivals and help it win back the crown of the number one luxury brand in India.
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