Photo: Audi
When Audi unveiled the Q2 at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, the Ingolstadt-based automaker tried something new, something that would help the premium brand of the Volkswagen Group shake off its Dieselgate stigma. Some might say that Audi got bland with the advent of the Q2, but I wouldn’t rush to draw a conclusion so easily.
The last five years saw go-faster models get increasingly popular. From full-blown AMGs to precision tools with from the M division, Merc and BMW know all too well that fast cars sell. Audi is no stranger to the performance game, but few people were expecting for the manufacturer to apply the go-faster treatment to the Q2.
An Audi RS Q2, due in 2018, could or could not happen. However, an Audi SQ2 has all the chances in the world happen, as reported by the peeps at Auto Express. Stefan Knirsch, the Audi board member for technical development, told the British publication: “It is something we’re looking at. It would be relatively easy to do with MQB. The Q2 shares a lot with the A3, but we have to see what appetite there is for the more expensive Q2 models first.”
By more expensive models, Stefan is referring to the Audi Q2 TSFI quattro S line pictured in the gallery of this story. The Audi official admitted that the Q2 can hold a retail price of around €45,000 ($51,115 at current exchange rates) provided that all the option boxes are ticked. In other words, the entry-level variant of the Q2 will be priced similarly to or beyond the A3 compact hatchback.
The Progressive Steering system found in the S3 warm hatch is available on the Q2, so it’s only logical to assume that Audi can crank the volume up to SQ2 if consumers want such a thing. In terms of powertrain, the most likely engine comes in the form of a 296 horsepower 2.0-liter turbo-four. Of course, quattro all-wheel-drive will be there to keep things under control in the twisties.
While we wait for Audi to make up its mind on whether it will put the SQ2 into production, the most powerful engine option we have for the Q2 is a 2.0-liter turbo-four with 188 horsepower on tap.
An Audi RS Q2, due in 2018, could or could not happen. However, an Audi SQ2 has all the chances in the world happen, as reported by the peeps at Auto Express. Stefan Knirsch, the Audi board member for technical development, told the British publication: “It is something we’re looking at. It would be relatively easy to do with MQB. The Q2 shares a lot with the A3, but we have to see what appetite there is for the more expensive Q2 models first.”
By more expensive models, Stefan is referring to the Audi Q2 TSFI quattro S line pictured in the gallery of this story. The Audi official admitted that the Q2 can hold a retail price of around €45,000 ($51,115 at current exchange rates) provided that all the option boxes are ticked. In other words, the entry-level variant of the Q2 will be priced similarly to or beyond the A3 compact hatchback.
The Progressive Steering system found in the S3 warm hatch is available on the Q2, so it’s only logical to assume that Audi can crank the volume up to SQ2 if consumers want such a thing. In terms of powertrain, the most likely engine comes in the form of a 296 horsepower 2.0-liter turbo-four. Of course, quattro all-wheel-drive will be there to keep things under control in the twisties.
While we wait for Audi to make up its mind on whether it will put the SQ2 into production, the most powerful engine option we have for the Q2 is a 2.0-liter turbo-four with 188 horsepower on tap.
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