By: IOL Motoring Staff
Ingolstadt - Audi has treated its Q3 and RS Q3 to a mid-life makeover, giving the SUVs a more distinctive face and beefed up engines.
Though the 'redesigned' headlights look rather familiar (with xenon plus technology standard and full LED units optional), the single-frame grille has been given a far more distinct persona, with a large chrome surround that runs into the headlights. What's more, the lower corners of the front bumper gain larger air intakes.
The winds of change blow beneath the bonnet too, where the RS Q3's five-cylinder turbopetrol engine gets tuned up to 250kW and 450Nm, which basically means that Audi has removed the previous power restriction as outputs now match those in the TT RS. As a result this ferocious softroader now sprints from 0-100km/h in a claimed 4.8 seconds.
The revised turbocharged petrol and diesel engines in the rest of the range benefit from modest power increases and fuel consumption reductions of up to 17 percent. These engines displace between 1.4 and 2-litres, with power outputs of between 88kW and 162kW.
Audi's engineers also tinkered with the chassis, with the aim of providing a more comfortable ride quality.
A long list of optional safety and entertainment features filters down from larger models, including active lane assist with steering interference, Audi side assist and MMI navigation plus.
While the South African on-sale date has yet to be confirmed, the global rollout starts early next year.