Audi’s Q3 crossover has been redesigned from the ground up, but it will not hit dealerships before the very end of the year. After that, the German car manufacturer will add a more potent option, which is going to be introduced sometime in 2019 as the 2020 Audi SQ3. Even though it’s still pretty far away from production lines, the vanilla option looks almost ready on the first spy shots.
The camouflage hides the details, but the overall design can be hinted already. As far as we can see, the 2020 SQ3 will basically feature pretty much the same lines as the regular new-gen Q3. Though, it appears that the vehicle sits closer to the ground and rides on bigger wheels, which are paired with red calipers. The front bumper is definitely enlarged coupled with larger air intakes that sport silver framing. The biggest give away is the rear bumper for sure. The 2020 Audi SQ3 will host a redesigned bumper with S-specific quad exhaust tailpipes, which is characteristic for all S-badged high-performance models from Audi.
The compact crossover still hides its cabin. However, we think we know what’s cooking inside. Judging by the latest reports, the future SQ3 will use a fully digital instrument cluster that will be completed with an enlarged MMI infotainment screen. The performance model will likely feature more assistance systems than the regular model, as well as some special, most likely metallic accents.
The biggest mystery is what’s going to power the 2020 Audi SQ3. The high-riding vehicle can’t get the awesome 2.5-liter five-cylinder mill because the option should be reserved for the most potent RS Q3 version. Instead, the S-badged compact crossover will use a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4. The engine will deliver 310 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, which should reduce a 0-60 mph time below 5 seconds. The turbo unit will be mated to a seven-speed S Tronic transmission and a Quattro all-wheel-drive system.
