More details on the 2016 Audi Q1 compact SUV emerge - Rendering

The smallest SUV from Audi will be based on Volkswagen's MQB platform.

The upcoming Audi Q1 mini SUV will sit alongside the A3, and below the Q3, and will not just fill a gap but also help the brand achieve the numero-uno spot that Audi CEO Rupert Stadler targets by 2020.

According to a recent report by Auto Bild, the Q1's price (as reported earlier here) will start at 25,000 Euros (about INR 20 lakhs). It will be based on the MQB architecture (that currently underpins cars like the Audi A3 range, the Volkswagen Golf, the Skoda Octavia, etc.), and will include a plethora of engine choices, ranging from the humble 1.4-litre TFSI petrol which makes 138 hp of power and 250 Nm of torque to a 230 hp and 370 Nm producing 2-litre TFSI unit.

There will also be the 2-litre diesels (likely to be in two states of tune), while the SQ1 will get another variation of the same engine but with 231 hp and 500 Nm of maximum torque. All engines will come mated to Audi's S-tronic automatic transmission apart from manual units, and the quattro all-wheel drive system will be available on higher models. The base models will be front wheel drive.

Designed under Marc Lichte's leadership, the Q1 will be more of a crossover than an outright SUV, in terms of looks. On the inside, the report says, the cockpit will be angled towards the driver, suggesting a driver-orientated positioning of the vehicle.

Also read: Next-generation Audi A6 coming in 2017

There can be a hybrid based on the e-Golf's powertrain while on the opposite side of the spectrum, the Q1 range can be topped by an RS Q1 model as well (with maximum power of more 300 hp). An entry level model like the Q1 could make a good business case for Audi India, which along with other competitors has seen increased demand for compact models.

Expected Price: 25,000 Euros
Launch date: 2016 (Europe)

[Source: Auto Bild]