RS Q3 Concept (Germany, 2012)

The RS Q3 concept is the new small SUV from Audi's Q3 lineup and it will be officially presented at the 2012 Beijing Auto Show.

The small SUV borrows its engine from the TT RS, a five-cylinder 2.5l, TFSI with 360hp and 343lb-ft. Audi is claiming acceleration 100km/h in 5.2 seconds and a top speed of 265km/h. It is mated to the seven-speed S Tronic dual clutch transmission with all-wheel drive.

On the outside, the RS Q3 has been lowered by 25mm (0.98in) and sports a wider, bigger single frame grill trimmed in aluminum. The lower portion of the bumper has larger air intakes that are separated by carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) components. The headlights have been tinted slightly compared to the stock model and have CFRP components. The headlights are also partially outlined by LEDs. The door mirror housings are made from CFRP with aluminum trim around the windows. The trim around the bottom of the doors and fenders has a slight blue tint to match the car's blue paint. At the rear, it has extremely squinty tail lights and a CFRP lower diffuser that incorporates two chrome exhaust outlets. The wheels are 20 inches with gloss fronts and sandblasted crevices.

The interior carries on the blue theme with blue, leather seat inserts and blue carbon trim on the dashboard, door inserts and around the shifter. There is also blue stitching around the instrument panel, steering wheel and seats. The seats are the larger units found on the rest of the RS cars. The instrument panels are done in a shiny, faux-chrome.

The engine compartment has been designed to mostly hide the engine. The engine is framed in carbon fiber with just a few openings for coolant and oil. The engine is also partially obscured by the carbon fiber.