Because more power is good.
The Audi Q3 is a pretty unassuming premium small crossover SUV in its own right. But once you start climbing the model ladder, things can get surprisingly fun. The Audi RS Q3 that once sat at the top has been pushed even further thanks to the new Audi RS Q3 Performance model. There’s more power, more exclusivity, and more smiles to be had all around.
The new “performance” nameplate delivers just that. The 2.5-liter, turbocharged inline-five cylinder engine in the new Audi RS Q3 Performance produces 27 more horsepower than the standard RS Q3 variant thanks to improved cooling and an optimized fuel pump. In total, 367 horsepower and 343 lb-ft. of torque from 1,625 to 5,550 RPM is produced and sent through the sport-tuned seven-speed S tronic gearbox to the Quattro permanent all-wheel drive.
Thanks to the additional bump in power, the Audi RS Q3 Performance can accelerate from 0-62 mph in just 4.4 seconds and hit a top speed of 167.8 mph.
Audi has also given the RS Q3 Performance an athletic chassis from the electronics to the hardware. Drivers can change the dynamics via the RS multifunction steering wheel from a comfortable to a taught ride. The entire body sits 20 mm lower than the standard Q3 model for a better center of gravity. As an option, customers can also select the RS sport suspension with damper control.
Visually, the Audi RS Q3 Performance sports a few details that set it apart from the pack. New front and rear bumpers add some muscle and brawn while new air inlets and diffusers optimize airflow. Matte titanium-finished parts such as the Quattro logo, air inlet flaps, side window trim strip, and more contrast the factory paint to stand out even more. New RS-spec 20-inch five twin-spoke V-design wheels come standard as well as red brake calipers proudly sporting the RS logo.
Inside, the cockpit is decorated with new RS sport leather on the steering wheel, gear selector, arm rest, and more with blue stitching. A special carbon twill blue inlay set features a blue thread woven in the carbon fiber to create a unique design. Grey-faced instruments with white dials and red needles pair perfectly with the RS sport leather steering wheel for drivers.
The new Audi RS Q3 Performance will make its global debut at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show in March and be available globally in the second quarter of 2016.
Audi RS Q3 Performance Specifications
Engine:
Displacement: 2.5 liters
Number of Cylinders: Inline-five
Aspiration: Turbocharged
Maximum Horsepower: 367 / 270 kW
Maximum Torque: 343 lb-ft. / 465 Nm from 1,625 to 5,550 RPM
Performance:
Acceleration 0-62 mph: 4.4 seconds
Top Speed: 167.8 mph / 270 km/h
Audi RS Q3 Performance Gallery
Source: Audi
Is the Audi RS Q3 Performance the ultimate small crossover SUV?
