Audi Q3 S to hit Indian roads on 19th August 2013

The past few months have been quite exciting for the luxury car segment of the Indian auto market. Top companies in the segment like Mercedes-Benz, Audi and BMW have been involved in the launch of various new models. While Mercedes-Benz has introduced the A-Class, B-Class diesel, E63 AMG and GL-Class Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), Audi has brought in RS5 and S6. Keeping the momentum going, strong rumours have surfaced that the brand with four rings is expected to launch the base version of the Q3 SUV, which will be known as the Q3 S.

Analysts have spotted a clear pattern in the strategies adopted by these companies. It has been seen that in order to boost their market share, firms are introducing low-cost vehicles to reach out to middle-class buyers. This kind of competition among luxury car makers could be a great development for the Indian auto industry, which is currently battling a slowdown. Industry experts have also stated that these moves by companies like Audi, Mercedes-Benz and BMW are necessary, in order to have any sort of impact on the market. In the past few months, sales have declined continuously, forcing a number of auto makers to resort to drastic measures.

It is expected that numerous features present in the Q3 SUV will not be there in the Q3 S, majorly because of its low price. Notably, the Q3 S will miss out on the Quattro technology, the all-wheel drive system from Audi. It is expected that the Q3 S will be equipped with a 2.0-litre diesel engine, which is capable of producing an output of around 140 bhp. The engine will be mated to 6-speed manual gearbox, which will transmit power to the front wheels. This toned-down version of the Q3 will come with standard features like leather seats, climate control, voice dialogue system, MMI with Bluetooth connectivity and climate control. Notably, the Audi Q3 S is set to miss out on the daytime running LED lamps, which are the trademark of a car from the German auto maker. By reducing a number of premium features from the Q3 S, Audi has optimised the cost of production, thereby allowing it to offer the car at a low price.

Rumours suggest that the Audi Q3 S is going to be brought to India as a Completely Knocked Down (CKD) unit and subsequently, will be assembled at the firm's Aurangabad facility. Pricing is a key issue when it comes to cars from makers like Audi, Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Industry experts feel that the Q3 S might be priced somewhere in the region of Rs. 25 lakh (ex-showroom). The Audi Q3 S is likely to face stiff competition from cars like Mercedes-Benz A-Class and the upcoming BMW 1 Series.