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John Mahoney11 Mar 2015
NEWS

Baby Audi Q1 SUV due in 2016

Audi boss confirms a small, more premium rival to the Nissan JUKE is on track for a 2016 launch

Audi boss Rupert Stadler confirmed at Audi's annual press conference in Ingolstadt, Germany overnight that its small Q1 is on track to go on sale in 2016.

Late last night Stadler revealed Audi's all-new baby SUV will be based on the new Volkswagen Golf’s MQB platform and built at an all-new factory that’s currently being constructed at Audi’s HQ.

The Q1 was signed off for production back in 2013, and could be among the first Audis to incorporate the company’s next-generation design language.

Despite originally being overseen by former design director Wolfgang Egger, insiders have revealed new Audi design chief Marc Lichte has had just enough time to add his own personal touches to the Q1, including a toned down grille and more muscular body.

Said to be closer in size to a three-door Audi A3 than the small A1, the Q1 is expected to be 4237mm long and 1777mm tall, with a 2601mm wheelbase.

The Nissan JUKE-size crossover will offer the same choice of engines as the current A3 hatch and will also come with both front-wheel or all-wheel drive quattro drive configurations.

The Q1 is key to Audi's target of growing its SUV sales from about the 30 per cent of its total volume now to 35 per cent by 2020, and will be joined by the all-new Q6 in this quest.

The arrival of the new models will also help Audi meet its ambitious aim of offering 60 different model line-ups by 2020, and attract a younger buyer to its SUV range with a starting price of under $40,000 (the Q3 currently starts at $42,300).

In a Geneva motor show interview with senior Audi board member Ulrich Hackenberg, Audi said it was originally was on the look out for a new name for the its baby SUV after complaints that ‘Q1’ sounded too cheap for its premium positioning in the small SUV class.

'Q2' was under consideration until Audi realised Alfa Romeo already owned the name. The widespread use of ‘Q1’ in the press conference by senior Audi execs proves Audi might have overcome such fears.

The Frankfurt motor show in September could be the first time we see a near-production concept of the Q1 before it arrives next year.

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