Audi grew 23.4% globally in 2010 on 2009 figures. A nice rebound for the world’s third biggest premium car maker, aiming to be number one by the year 2015. Sales for last year came to 1.148 million cars. Chief rival BMW sold just over 1.2 million vehicles in the same period. Products like the new A1 (launching in Mzansi next week), upcoming Q3 (smallest SUV in the ranger, smaller than both Q7 and Q5), new A6 and a fourth body type for the A3 are expected to boost sales.
Another type of A3? Yes. Remember, first it was the three-door hatchback, then came the Sportback, and then later the Cabriolet (slahla). Audi now says a different body type of A3 is on its way this year. What could it be? We can only think of two derivatives: a sedan and a coupe. A sedan would basically look like a smaller A4, while a coupe could be quite unique, possibly take some resemblance from the A5 Coupe. The case for a sedan is that it’s unique in the segment in which hatchbacks rule. Markets where such a car could thrive include China and the US. An A3 Coupe on the other hand would take on the BMW 1 Series Coupe head-on, to inject some competition and excitement into that sub-segment. I imagine an RS 3 Coupe for example, taking on the new 1 M Coupe. We can only dream!
The Q3 SUV on the other hand, begins production this year as well and will be built in Spain. Q3 is meant to be a BMW X1 rival. Engines for both the A3 sedan/ coupe will come from other existing Audis, including the 1.4 TFSI and the 1.6 TDI.
I think the Audi Q3 will be priced at about R350 000 for a baseline model when it arrives here either in late 2011 or early 2012.
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