Audi’s baby Q1 Crossover to get 295 horsepower RS treatment

By Andrew Hard June 17, 2014

Audi RS Q1 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Audi’s Q1 crossover is the German company’s latest foray into the compact utility vehicle (CUV) market, with a strong emphasis on the word “compact”.

The pint-sized Q1 is only 12.4 feet long, which is a full 1.3 feet shorter than the current Audi TT and over 2.0 feet shorter than the Volkswagen Tiguan, another compact crossover. The Q1 is even 6.0 inches shorter than the Audi A1, the supermini-sized economy car on which it is based.

Despite its meager dimensions, the Q1 should be more off-road capable than a skateboard, as Audi promises it will have “generous ground clearance.” However, due to the Q1’s entry-level status, it will only be offered in front-wheel-drive, so don’t expect the baby Audi to be king of the mud pits.

“The Audi Q1 is part of our broad-based SUV strategy,” said Rupert Stadler, CEO of Audi. “It is designed on the basis of the modular transverse engine concept and will round off our Q series at the bottom end.”

The Q1 does look the part though, with angular, modern body styling and wide front intakes. If we’re to go by the current renderings, the Q1 looks to be one the most attractive CUVs on the market, especially when compared to the downright awkward Mercedes ML Coupe and BMW X6.

Despite only being offered in FWD, Q1 should be plenty of fun on tarmac. World Car Fans reports that the Q1 will feature a 295-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbo four in RS guise. We don’t have conformation on curb weight yet, but given that the A1 weighs around 2500 lbs in top form, the RS Q1 should be plenty spry.

The Q1 will offer a multitude of other engine choices, including three, smaller turbocharged fours with 138hp, 177hp, and 226hp, respectively. Two turbo diesels will also be offered, one with 147 hp and 184 pound-feet of torque, and another with 181 hp and 206 lb-ft.

The Audi Q1 is expected to retail for around $35,000 when it hits showrooms in the first quarter of 2016.

Editors' Recommendations

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Andrew first started writing in middle school and hasn't put the pen down since. Whether it's technology, music, sports, or…

Cars

Tesla’s fix for faulty Cybertruck pedal is simpler than you might think

Tesla Cybertruck

Less than five months after handing over the first Cybertrucks to customers, Tesla has had to recall the electric pickup to fix an issue with the accelerator.

In a notice issued on Friday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said that the recall impacts Cybertruck vehicles manufactured from November 13, 2023, to April 4, 2024. This suggests that all -- or almost all -- of the 3,878 Cybertrucks being recalled are those that have been manufactured to date.

Cars

Ford Mustang Mach-E 2024 vs. Mach-E 2023: What’s new in Ford’s electric Mustang?

Blue Ford Mustang Mach-E on a rooftop

The Ford Mustang Mach-E is easily one of the best EVs for the price, offering a solid range, sleek design, and pretty good tech on the inside. In recent years, it has gotten even cheaper -- thanks in large part to a price war between it and the Tesla Model 3. And, the company just took the wraps off of the latest and greatest version of the Mach-E, labeled as the 2024 model.

The 2024 Mustang Mach-E is notably different from the 2023 iteration in some meaningful ways. So much so that we decided to take a look at the two head-to-head -- to see if it was better to pay for the 2024 model or save some cash on any remaining 2023 stock.
Design
The Mustang Mach-E looks relatively unique -- in a good way. And thankfully, Ford has largely kept the overall design the same for the 2024 model, at least when it comes to the more consumer-focused models. The car retains the slatted taillights and crossover size. It also offers a large selection of colors, including the very blue Grabber Blue Metallic, as well as Rapid Red Metallic. It's a good selection of colors, and there should be an option for most buyers.

Cars

Tesla to begin production on new, more affordable models

Tesla Model 3

With competition increasing from Chinese and other automakers, Tesla boss Elon Musk revealed on Tuesday that his company is planning to begin production of new, more affordable models in “early 2025, if not late this year.” Notably, that's earlier than the previously stated date of late 2025, though whether Musk actually succeeds in meeting the earlier production time frame is another question entirely.

The news came as Tesla released its latest quarterly figures. Revenue for the electric vehicle maker came in at $21.3 billion, down from the $23.3 billion it reported for the same three-month period a year earlier and also down from the $25.2 billion reported in the previous quarter. Profit reached $1.1 billion, marking a 55% fall compared to the same period a year ago.