- The brand new Audi Q3 plug-in hybrid can drive as much as 74 miles on electrical energy (WLTP).
- It will also be DC quick charged, with a top-up to 80% taking lower than half an hour.
- The high-voltage battery has almost double the capability of its predecessor, however the bodily dimension is similar.
The Audi Q3 compact crossover is now in its third technology, and it comes with all of the bells and whistles conceivable, together with steering wheel stalks which can be really buttons. I’ll get to that later, however now I wish to concentrate on what powers the brand new Q3.
The brand new technology is obtainable in Europe with a single plug-in hybrid model, in addition to a daily fuel gentle hybrid and diesel (sure, that’s nonetheless a factor). Dubbed the Q3 SUV e-hybrid 200 kW, the compact PHEV places down precisely that: 200 kilowatts (268 horsepower) of energy and 295 pound-feet (400 Newton-meters) of torque, due to a 1.5-liter fuel engine that works in tandem with an electrical motor.
Picture by: Audi
Obtainable solely with front-wheel drive, the PHEV’s electrical motor is sandwiched between the combustion engine and the six-speed automated transmission. The high-voltage battery is situated beneath the rear bench seat, in entrance of the fuel tank that’s beneath the trunk flooring.
In comparison with the outgoing plug-in hybrid Q3, the brand new mannequin’s battery is sort of double in capability, all whereas being roughly the identical bodily dimension as earlier than. Now, the Q3 e-hybrid packs a complete of 25.7 kilowatt-hours, up from the earlier mannequin’s 13 kWh, whereas the usable capability is rated at 19.7 kWh. This leads to a WLTP-rated all-electric vary of as much as 74 miles (119 kilometers) on a full cost, whereas the outdated mannequin may solely handle as much as 30 miles (49 km), at the very least on paper.
Picture by: Audi
The brand new Q3 PHEV additionally will get quick charging, which wasn’t obtainable earlier than. By means of a CCS connector, the high-voltage battery can settle for as much as 50 kW of energy from a DC quick charger. Audi says the crossover’s battery will be charged as much as 80% state of cost in lower than half an hour in excellent circumstances, which isn’t unhealthy in any respect.
Now, it’s price noting that what you’ve learn to this point is related for the European market. In truth, Audi doesn’t even promote the previous-generation Q3 PHEV in the US, however that may change with the newest mannequin, seeing how the German automaker stated it needs to spice up its PHEV sport globally. And what higher manner to do this than to supply an entry-level mannequin?
Design-wise, the third-gen Q3 appears almost an identical to its greater brother, the Q5. Each get break up headlights, whereas Q3 differentiates itself on the rear by way of a break up mild design with a pair of OLED taillights and a full-width LED mild strip under.
Inside, the Q3 will get a reasonably peculiar pair of steering wheel stalks. To avoid wasting house on the middle console, Audi moved the shift lever to the best aspect of the steering column, whereas all the opposite options had been moved to the left. Furthermore, the stalks are literally buttons with haptic suggestions as an alternative of conventional levers, and the controls for the windshield wiper timer had been bundled onto a bit rotating wheel.
In contrast to the bigger Q5 that may be specced with three shows, the Q3 can solely be had with a extra conventional two-screen setup. There’s a 12.8-inch touchscreen for the infotainment, in addition to an 11.9-inch show for the digital gauge cluster. Moreover, a head-up show can beam related info instantly onto the windshield.
The usual suspension setup comes with a easy damper and spring combo, whereas the choices record features a sports activities suspension with two-valve damper management. The bottom fashions include 17-inch wheels, whereas the highest trim will get 20-inchers. The tire width has additionally been elevated from 215 to 235 millimeters, whereas the drag coefficient has been lowered from 0.32 to 0.30.
The rear bench can slide ahead and backward to supply both extra legroom for rear passengers or extra cargo house. With the bench slid again, the trunk presents 17.2 cubic toes (488 liters) of quantity. With the seats all the best way to the entrance, the capability will increase to twenty.3 cu ft (575 liters). With the bench folded, the utmost cargo house goes as much as 48.9 cu ft (1,386 liters).
All of this places the brand new Audi Q3 in the identical house because the BMW X1, which is obtainable as a plug-in hybrid in Europe. BMW’s PHEV presents extra energy–326 hp in complete–however has a smaller battery capability (14.2 kWh usable) and a shorter electric-only vary (as much as 51 miles on a full cost).
The brand new Audi Q3 can be constructed on the automaker’s factories in Gy?r, Hungary, and Ingolstadt, Germany. It would go on sale in October, with a beginning value of €49,300 ($57,000) for the plug-in hybrid Q3 SUV e-hybrid 200 kW model. A coupe-like variant dubbed the Q3 Sportback is predicted to affix the SUV physique fashion later this yr.
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Supply: Audi
