With the current gas prices being as high as they are across the world, more and more automakers are rushing to offer smaller, more fuel-efficient products. Audi is the latest to join the trend, as today’s reports have the German luxury automaker bringing its smallest SUV to the market by 2012.
The small SUV, originally believed to be called Q3, would compete with the upcoming BMW X1 and Mini Crossman. The VP of Audi of America recently announced plans for the small crossover, but the most recent reports from Germany’s AutoZeitung say the X1 rival will be called the Q1. While that doesn’t sound very original, the crossover would be based on the company’s A1 passenger car platform, so it’s at least logical.
To be underpinned by a longer and stronger version of the next-generation Volkswagen Polo architecture, known internally as PQ24, the new Q should get a body that is just over 155 inches in length.
Powerplants will include VW’s 1.4-liter TFSI inline-four engine that can be had in a 125 horsepower and 150hp versions, with North American versions also likely getting the 2.0 inline-four TFSI good for 200hp model is also expected. European models will receive two diesel engines, including an 80hp 1.2-liter turbodiesel and a 1.6-liter TDI with up to 119hp.
