New Audi Q3 bow with sporty look, high-tech cabin

Sales of compact crossover SUVs are booming and Audi is expected to have one of the best deals next year in the form of a redesigned Q3.

The new Q3 was unveiled on Wednesday and is expected to reach the US showrooms in the first half of 2019, bringing with it a new look, increased proportions, and loads of technology in the cabin.

The Volkswagen Group's flexible MQB platform that Audi also uses in its A1, A3 and TT. At 176.5 inches, the new Q3's length is up 3.8 inches from its predecessor, with 3.0 inches of that between the wheels and thus benefiting from cabin space. The vehicle is also 1.0 inches wider and 0.2 inches lower. With the rear seats folded flat, the storage space is impressive 53.9 cubic feet.

Specifications for the United States still to be announced but in other markets Audi will offer its latest Q3 with three gasoline engines and one diesel. All are turbocharged in-line 4 and the most powerful unit provides 230 horsepower. The transmissions include six-speed manual gearboxes and seven-speed dual-clutch gearboxes. All Wheel Drive is available and can be upgraded with a hill descent function that maintains a predefined speed in steep descents.

This adds to a driving mode selector that adjusts a number of dynamic settings, including, damping the suspension. Alternatively, there is a sport-tuned suspension with stiffer settings for springs and damping as well as electronic power steering. The sport suspension is included as standard on the Q3 equipped with the S Line package. Regular wheels are 17 and 18 inches in diameter, but a 20-inch Audi Sport package is available.

On the outside, the design, while evolving, has become much more muscular. This is especially the case for the wings whose strong character lines are a nod to the Audi Quattro of the 1980s.

The interior is where the designers really amped things, though. The dashboard is divided into two levels, the upper part incorporating the vents and a digital dashboard and the lower part incorporating a large octagonal area containing an infotainment screen and a black border. Apple Car Play and Android Auto smartphone integration is included.

Audi also provides many electronic driving aids. These include adaptive cruise control with assistance with traffic jams, frontal collision warning with detection of cyclists and pedestrians, parking assistance with automatic steering and a panoramic vision camera capable of providing a detailed view of the wheels.

Further, look for Audi Sport to launch its new generation of high performance RS Q3, and this time it should be sold here. A hybrid e-tron plug-in option is also expected to make its way into the Q3 lineup at some point.