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Audi dealers will open order books in August for the Q2 crossover with prices starting from £20,230.
The car will join the range alongside the more heavily-SUV pitched Q3, Q5 and Q7 ranges, arriving in showrooms in November
Entering the burgeoning B-segment crossover market the Q2 is predicted to appeal to younger buyers who might otherwise be tempted into cars such as MINI’s Countryman.
Initially just two engine options will be available, a four-cylinder 1.6 TDI diesel of 115PS or a 150PS four-cylinder TFSI petrol with cylinder-on-demand technology, both allied to six-speed manual transmissions.
However the powertrain range will expand rapidly – doubling in options later in 2016 with a three-cylinder 1.0 TFSI also of 115PS and a four-cylinder 2.0 TDI with 150PS. The S tronic seven-speed dual clutch transmission will also become available on all but the 1-litre model.
Buyers wanting quattro all-wheel-drive will need to wait until mid 2017, when it will become available on the larger petrol and diesel models, while a 2.0 TFSI petrol engine, its power output not yet stated, with S tronic transmission will join the range.
Built on the VW Group’s versatile MQB platform, the Q2 measures up at 4.19 metres long, 1.79 metres wide and 1.51 metres tall, with a 2.6-metre long wheelbase and short overhangs.
Efforts to attract younger buyers will include wide-ranging personalisation options, such as an extensive choice of exterior colours and interior finishes to the trim and upholstery, equipment packages and extras including LED lighting illuminating various elements of the interior.
Technology that has become familiar in larger Audi models will also be offered on the Q2, including Audi’s smartphone interface that integrates with iOS and Android operating systems.
The brand’s standard MMI screen has been updated in similar fashion to the just-launched A3, with a combination of a rotary/push-button control and two buttons on the centre tunnel controlling the various functions displayed on the high-mounted screen.
Options available for the Q2 will include the much-praised virtual cockpit with its digital instrument display, a head-up display and park assist. Buyers ordering cars with the MMI navigation plus system will also have a touchpad to input commands through.
The Q2 will be offered in Audi’s familiar SE, Sport and S Line trim levels. The £20,230 buys a 1.0 TFSI version in SE specification, with manual gearbox and front-wheel-drive. Diesel models start from £22,380, while currently the only priced quoted for a quattro variant is the 2.0TDI 150PS at £28,360.
Andrew Charman
