Aiming to fulfil the global demand for stylish crossovers, Audi is expanding its SUV range with the first of the new models hitting production in 2018. The Q4 will follow in 2019.
The global automotive market of today wants crossovers more than sedans, and automakers are scrambling to offer customers their own version of the SUV. Audi is among those carmakers that already has a crossover in each segment and is already beginning to expand its model range to cover more sub-segments. Enter the Audi Q4.
Currently, Audi makes and sells the entry-level subcompact crossover Q2, compact SUV Q3, midsize crossover Q5, and the luxury full-size SUV Q7. The Ingolstadt-based automaker has also confirmed a new Q8 is coming which will rival BMW's X6 and Mercedes-Benz's GLE Coupe. As for the segments that exist between its smaller SUV offerings, Audi is steadily plugging the gaps by announcing new launches.
The Audi Q4 will make use of Volkswagen AG's new MQB architecture and offer a rakish design that can help it play against existing models like the Mercedes-Benz GLA, Range Rover Evoque, and BMW X2. It will be offered in a five-seater configuration and possibly come with a plug-in hybrid drivetrain as an option. Additionally, we can expect Audi's five-cylinder engine to power one of the Q4's variants.
Audi confirmed the Q4 after revealing the all-electric Q6 saying it intends to provide an SUV to every type of customer. The Q6 upon its launch will take on the Jaguar I-Pace electric crossover. On the higher end of the spectrum, the Audi Q8 has already been confirmed for production at the company's Bratislava, Slovakia plant. The Q4 will be produced at the Győr, Hungary facility.
The Audi Q6 and Q8 are slated for a launch for model year 2019, with the Q4 following closely as either MY19 or MY20. Audi is making the Q3 bigger for its next generation, making it more spacious than its outright rivals. This will increase the difference between it and the entry-level Q2, making the company's SUV range more comprehensive. There would have been some cannibalisation between the Q4 and Q6, but the Q6 is maintaining clear differentiation through its all-electric powertrain.
Expect the Audi Q4 to arrive at dealerships by the end of 2019. Prices will start from $36,000 or AED 133,000.
