Aesthetically speaking, the RS Q3 borrows styling cues from other RS-badged Audis. It has a lip spoiler that is made out of carbon fiber, and an aggressive and angular front bumper that incorporates three air vents. The center vent has "quattro" discreetly written in it.
Black flares were added to the wheel arches in order to accommodate a wider track. They also provide a nice contrast with the matte blue paint job.
The RS Q3 sits on massive 20" wheels, and its ground clearance is about an inch lower than that of a regular Q3.
The black and blue theme continues on the inside. The front bucket seats are upholstered in black leather with blue Alcantra inserts. Blue is also present on the carbon fiber trim that is found on the dashboard and on the steering wheel.
The Chinese characters displayed on the tachometer should remove all doubts about which market the RS Q3 is primarily aimed at. The speedometer uses western numbers, and it goes up to 211 miles per hour.
211 miles per hour is immensely optimistic, but the RS Q3 is a powerful SUV nonetheless. It is powered by a 2.5-liter TFSI five-cylinder engine that is also found under the hood of the TT-RS and the RS3 hatchback. It is both turbocharged and direct-injected, giving it a power output of 360 horsepower.
The engine is bolted to a seven-speed S tronic gearbox which sends power to all four wheels thanks to Audi's famed quattro all-wheel drive system. The driver can go through the gears manually by using shift paddles mounted behind the steering wheel.
The RS Q3 takes 5.2 seconds to get to 62 miles per hour from a stop, and it goes on to a top speed of 164 miles per hour.
Although Audi calls the RS Q3 a concept, we would not be surprised to see it added to the brand's lineup as a regular production vehicle in the not-too-distant future.
