Audi is on a bit of a roll lately, with new generations of existing cars received well by customers, and electric cars getting closer to seeing the light of day. Amidst this activity, the German automaker is also aggressively expanding its model range and the latest test mule to be captured by spies is the upcoming Audi SQ2 sporty crossover.
Audi did not receive the footfalls at its dealers as much as expected with the Q2 compact crossover which was launched in 2016. Despite the fact that certain models do not sell as much as others in its stable, the company has a proud tradition of turning out hotter versions of each of the cars. Until recently, only the sedans and hatchbacks received the coveted 'S' and 'RS' badges. Audi has now extended the reach of its performance arm to include SUVs and crossovers in its lineup as well.
The latest entrant to wear the 'S' badge is the Q2. Spyshots have surfaced of a car that looks very like the Q2 doing rounds of a snow-covered road somewhere in Europe. The test mule in the pics is not camouflaged except for the snow it has thrown upon its own rear window and tailgate. The standard Q2 already looked quite butch with its wide stance, bold lines, and squared-off angles that imparted it a suave shape. The SQ2 takes the looks from the base car and gets four tailpipes that give away the fact that this is indeed a harder-core compact Audi crossover. The exhaust tips remind us of a similar car that shares the SQ2's platform: the MQB-underpinned Seat Ateca Cupra, unveiled quite recently at the Geneva Motor Show.
Given that Audi, Seat, Skoda, and Volkswagen share a single platform for many of its new models, and taking into consideration the fact that all these cars are essentially the same vehicle rebadged and given a new design fitting the company's language, expect the SQ2 to boast of the same specifications as the Ateca Cupra. Since the standard Q2 and Ateca share the same engine and weigh about the same, the SQ2 will, in all probability, benefit from the Ateca Cupra's 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 TSI capable of putting down 300 hp and pushing the car past the ton in 5.4 seconds and on to a top speed of 245 kph.
The Audi SQ2 will hit dealerships in late 2018 as a 2019 model and will go up against models from VAG's own portfolio, due to the lack of direct rivals out there.
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