Entry-Level Audi Q1 Crossover Expected To Arrive In 2020

But don’t bank on it coming to America.

Audi’s already-extensive SUV line-up is set to expand with a new baby crossover positioned below the tiny Q2. According to AutoExpress, Audi is expected to announce a new Q1 crossover as the latest member of the ever-expanding MQB family, slated to arrive before the end of 2020 after the automaker begins its onslaught of coupe-style SUVs starting with the Q8 later this year and the Q4 in 2019. When asked about a potential Q1, Audi sales and marketing boss Bram Schot hinted that it could happen in response to market trends.

“You cannot ignore the SUV trend; the question is how wide and how deep do we make the program with SUVs?” he said. “Depending on the business opportunities, we decide on the future product portfolio. Don’t be surprised if in two or three years you do see the car, as we try to react fast to markets.” While an entry-level Audi Q1 would rival the likes of the BMW X1 and Mercedes-Benz GLA, don’t bank on it coming to America. Audi’s upcoming subcompact SUV is likely to be based on the new A1 supermini, which has proven popular in Europe but isn’t currently sold in the US, despite the A3 sedan selling well over here.

Slated to arrive later this year, the next-generation A1 will be based on the smallest version of the VW’s MQB platform, which underpins the Polo. In Europe, this means the Q1 will most likely arrive with a variety of gasoline and diesel options including a three-cylinder 1.0-liter turbo, a more powerful 1.5-liter unit, and a 1.6-liter diesel. There could be a hybrid option too, by the time the Q1 rolls out before the end of 2020. Don’t expect Audi’s SUV onslaught to slow down any time soon, either. As well as the Q1, Q4, and Q8, Audi will also be introducing the fully-electric e-tron later this year along with the next-generation Q3, followed by the sleek e-tron Sportback EV in 2019.

Audi Sport Won't Ditch Icons When First EVs Arrive In 2020

What does this mean? There are a lot more turbocharged models on the way.

Outgoing Audi Sport chief Stephan Winkelmann may have only been with the brand for a short time, but he'll be leaving it in a better place when he takes over the leadership reigns of Bugatti early next year. Also a former Lamborghini president, Winkelmann has always demonstrated a keen eye for future product and branding, hence Audi Sport’s rebrand from Quattro last year. That said, Winkelmann confirmed to Autocar that the first Audi Sport EVs will begin to arrive sometime in 2020 and will launch at a rapid pace from there.

However, Winkelmann is fully aware of Audi Sport’s iconic past, when it was called Quattro, and has promised that legacy won’t die. In fact, internal combustion isn’t going anywhere either. “In 2018, 19, 20, we will have a lot of turbo engines with new models,” Winkelmann said. “We are not forgetting our icons, so we will continue to build them. Even if we keep in mind that electrification is important for us, legislators permitting, our turbo engines will stay because we are very proud of these.” Given all that, what will be some of those turbo engined vehicles?

For starters, an all-new A6 lineup is due, along with updated versions of existing models. A turbocharged R8 has also been mentioned. As for those future EVs, look no further than the e-tron Sportback Concept from earlier this year. That right there could be the best preview we've had so far regarding Audi Sport's first-ever pure EV.

Audi's Next Q3 to Arrive in 2018

RS Q3 may deliver 400 horsepower.

Thenext generation of Audi's small crossover, the Q3, will launch in 2018. Largelybased on the next Volkswagen Tiguan and sharing several of its engines, thenext Q3 is expected to be larger than the current generation, allowing it to be further set apart from the tiny Q1 model. Topping the Q3 line, the next RS Q3 shouldfeature Audi's newly-developed 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, which wasdeveloped specifically to take on a similar engine featured in Mercedes' smaller AMG models.

If that is the case, the 2018 RS Q3 could deliver approximately 400horsepower, a significant increase over the current model. At the lower end ofthe spectrum, the Q3 Ultra will offer 100 hp from a three-cylinder, 1.0-literengine.