Volkswagen likely to sell Audi Q3 in China next year

Shanghai October 28 (Gasgoo.com) Volkswagen AG will import all its Audi models to China due to the luxury brand's great performance, Zhang Xiaojun, executive vice president of FAW-VW Audi Sales Division, said recently, adding that the Audi Q3 will likely be introduced to the domestic market at the end of 2011, the Beijing Times reported Thursday.

The Audi Q3, positioned below the Q5, is a compact SUV based on the Audi Cross Coupe Quattro concept that was showcased at the 2007 Shanghai Auto Show. The volume version of the Q3 thereby has the same body size as the Cross Coupe Quattro concept that measures (LxWxH) 4629mm x 1880mm x 1653mm, and has a wheelbase of 2600mm and 450L luggage compartment capacity. Under the skin, the Q3 uses a platform borrowed from the Volkswagen Tiguan.

The imported Audi Q3 will carry a 200 hp 2.0-liter TFSI four-cylinder engine and a 2.0-liter TDI turbo diesel engine, available with the two-wheel drive and four-wheel drives options. The European model of the Q3 will feature a 6-speed manual transmission; the U.S. model will be equipped with a 6-speed dual-clutch (S tronic) or a traditional 6-speed automatic transmission, according to sources.

The German automaker launched in 2005 the full-size luxury crossover SUV, Audi Q7, its first Q series product under the Audi brand, which has proven to be one of the most successful models in the segment. Next came the Audi Q5 in 2009, becoming another hit in the consumer market, and its supply has always fallen short of demand.

VW plans to increase the number of its Audi dealership in China from the current 157 in 106 cities to over 400 by 2013.

By 2015, more than 40 Audi models will have been brought to China to cover each high-end vehicle segment, said Dietmar Voggenreiter, president of Audi China.