Audi RS Q5 in development
Germany-based quattro hotshop's next model to be tyre-shredding SUVBMW's M division and Mercedes-Benz AMG performance group have been aggressively expanding their go-fast SUV range, and now Audi's quattro hotshop is joining the party in earnest.
The next new RS model from quattro is shaping up to be the RS Q5, after the company admitted it needs to expand in markets outside of Europe, such as the USA and Australia, where SUVs are hugely popular – especially the fast ones.
Heinz Hollerweger, the Managing Director of quattro GmbH, told an Australian media contingent visiting the Audi Sport development centre in Neuberg of the tuner's plans for the SUV markets.
"The RS brand started for the European market, but we have a lot of work to do overseas, in the US, Australia and Asia. Our next step is to introduce models more popular in other markets," he said.
"We are thinking in new body styles," he said. "We have to realise there is also a demand for Q models in the RS. Q models, SUVs are famous and popular all over the world, so we have started with the RS Q3 (pictured) and we could think about more Q models in an RS body style," he revealed.
Quizzed over whether we would see both the Q5 and Q7 get the high-performance treatment, possibly boosted by the twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 used in the S6, RS 6 and RS 7, Hollerweger responded, "just one".
Which one?
"I wouldn't answer that but we started with the RS Q3, so there is a logical continuation," he said, hinting strongly that the RS Q5 is next.
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