DETROIT 2012: AUDI REVEALS HOT Q3 VAIL CONCEPT

While this car is called the Audi Q3 Vail Concept, make no mistake, it will be produced. Perhaps not in the exact form as it appears here, but very much so on the powertrain front. At least. Audi unveiled it (not sure if there’s a pun in there) at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

For the engine Audi used the company five-cylinder 2.5-litre TFSI found in models like the TT RS and RS 3 Sportback. In this guise it makes 231kW and 400Nm of torque. Quattro all-wheel-drive (AWD) puts power on all four wheels through a 7-speed S tronic gearbox. Acceleration from 0 – 100km/h takes place in 5.5 seconds, and top speed is 262km/h. Not bad for something smaller than a Q5.

Some bits from the concept, such as the flared wheel arches and running boards, will be made available to the Audi accessories list. Different premium or even luxury materials were applied in different areas, including Nappa leather trim, contrasting stitching and red velvet-finish leather.

Inside we can see some parts in high-gloss black, the type that looks extremely good when clean and shiny, there are aluminium inserts and chrome trims on others.

We think a production version of this Q3 Veil, named after the famous winter sports venue in the United States, will make its way into South Africa late in 2012 or in early 2013.