Yahoo Autos The Audi Q3 Is Getting a "Coupe-Like" Sportback Stablemate
The Audi Q3, the smallest SUV that the four-ring brand currently sells in the United States, is getting a new derivative called the Q3 Sportback.
This new model will have a different roofline meant to convey a sportier look, not unlike competitors such as the BMW X2, a "coupe-like" version of the X1.
After it makes its debut later this year, we expect the Q3 Sportback to go on sale in the U.S. sometime in 2020.
Audi has been hesitant to enter the "coupe-SUV" fray along with its key competitors Mercedes-Benz and BMW, but now it's diving in further with a new version of the Q3 called the Q3 Sportback. As you can see in our illustration, the key difference between the Sportback and the conventional Q3 crossover is seen at the rear, where the roofline slopes more dramatically. It will otherwise be mechanically identical to the new Q3, which rides on the Volkswagen Group's MQB architecture and will go on sale in the U.S. later this year.
This new Sportback won't be Audi's only rakish SUV derivative, even if the company has been less than consistent with its naming convention for these variants. The Q8 is effectively a coupe version of the Q7, while the new e-tron all-electric SUV will spawn an e-tron Sportback variant soon. The Q3 Sportback's key rival will be the BMW X2, which itself is derived from the X1 but has unique styling to set itself apart.
When it arrives in the U.S. (Audi hasn't officially confirmed that it will), expect the Q3 Sportback to have the same turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four engine as the standard Q3, with standard Quattro all-wheel drive and a one-choice-only eight-speed automatic transmission. Cargo space will likely be reduced due to the sloping roofline, but we suppose that's the price of style.
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