German car maker Audi is gearing up to launch the much-anticipated low cost variant of Q3, named Q3 S. The company has been extremely successful in the crossover segment with its Q3 model and now with the launch of its entry level model, it aims to cement its strong foothold in the market. It is being said that the Q3 S will carry a price tag of around Rs. 25 lakh (ex-showroom), which is seen as a deliberate strategy by Audi to target the price sensitive buyers of Indian car market.
In the international market, the low cost version of Audi Q3 is equipped with a 2.0-litre TDI engine, which produces a maximum power of 140 bhp along with peak torque of 320 Nm. The diesel engine is mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox. Audi has also put in dedicated efforts in order to reduce costs and keep the pricing of car under check. Furthermore, the car is expected to come sans the Quattro technology, which is an all-wheel drive system made by the German auto maker. It is also reported that the company may skip a few features like day time running lights and sunroof.
It is speculated that Q3 S will be rolled out in the Indian car market through the Completely Knocked Down (CKD) route and is expected to be assembled at the Aurangabad production facility. It must be noted that the base version of Q3 (2.0-litre TDI) is on sale for Rs. 27.21 lakh.
Audi's move of introducing a low-cost version of the Q3 is considered strategic by industry experts. Mercedes-Benz recently launched diesel versions of the A-Class and B-Class, whereas BMW is planning to bring the 1 Series in the Indian car market. Industry experts are viewing this rivalry as healthy for the Indian auto market, which is currently facing hardships as the demand continues to decline and the value of rupee is falling consistently. In times likes these, the aggressive strategies adopted by the likes of Mercedes-Benz and BMW indicate the potential the Indian car market possesses. Mercedes-Benz, Audi and BMW, all belonging to Germany, are competing fiercely with each other. With many new cars already being launched and several to be introduced soon, things might just improve for the Indian auto industry.
![Audi Q3 [2017-2020]](https://imgd-ct.aeplcdn.com/160x89/cw/ec/26916/Audi-Q3-Right-Front-Three-Quarter-165496.jpg?wm=0&q=80 "Audi Q3 [2017-2020]")
