2015 Audi Q3 Crossover Facelift comes into focus

The Audi Q3 crossover is a hot selling product for the German luxury car maker in India and in car markets around the world. While Audi launched the Q3 in India during 2012, the crossover went on sale globally a year earlier, in 2011. The time is ripe for a facelift and Audi has been testing the facelifted version of the Q3 on European roads.

The latest set of spyshots reveal that the facelifted, 2015 Audi Q3 will feature a mildly revised front end with extra chrome and updated headlamps. The front grille is expected to see incremental changes with a more pronounced design that will also make it to the next-generation Q7 luxury crossover and future Audi SUVs.

Major mechanical changes on the Audi Q3 will include more powerful turbo petrol and turbo diesel engines from the EA288 and EA888 ranges. Apart from being more powerful and ready for use on cars based on the MQB platform, the new range of engines have already made their appearance on the 2013 Skoda Octavia sold in India.

On the inside, expect the 2015 Q3 crossover to gain new features and a tweaked interior design in keeping with the overall theme of the facelift. The crossover is likely to make its debut by the end of this year, with international sales commencing from early next year.

In India, expect the facelifted Q3 to arrive sometime next year to battle the Mercedes Benz GLA crossover, which will be launched here by the end of this year. As the competition in the entry level, luxury SUV segment hots up in India, the facelifted Q3 will be used to defend Audi’s market turf here.

Currently, Audi India offers the Q3 with 2 liter TFSI turbo petrol and TDI turbo diesel engines. The Q3 is sold with front wheel drive and all wheel drive layouts. 6 speed manual and 7 speed automatic transmissions are offered on the crossover, which starts at 24.37 lakh rupees, ex-showroom Delhi.

Spyshots courtesy AutoEvolution