Exclusive Pics: Cut price Audi Q3 caught testing EDIT: Now launched at Rs. 24.99 lakhs

[PrancingHorse 1]

These are exclusive pictures of a cut price Audi Q3 which was recently caught testing in the urban traffic of Mumbai. If you look at the pics the alloys look really basic and the quattro badge is missing from the grille making it evident that the cut price Q3 will be a front wheel drive

As the competition in the Indian luxury car segment is intensifying with the likes of Mercedes Benz A-Class, B-Class and BMW 1-Series all set to grab a greater market share, the current market leader(for the first 3 months of 2013) Audi could launch a cut price version of the Q3 Crossover in diesel guise later this year. Such a crossover is expected to be diesel powered and could come with a front wheel drive option instead of the current Quattro all wheel drive unit. This apart, the cut price Audi Q3 crossover is expected to take the locally assembly approach through the completely knocked down(CKD) unit route.

Currently, Audi does have a cut price, entry level version of the Q3 Crossover Diesel, that it sells internationally. The international-spec Audi Q3 2.0 TDI is front wheel driven while the engine, while continuing to be a 2 Liter TDI turbo diesel unit, outputs 140 Bhp-320 Nm. Also, the international-spec Audi Q3 comes with a 6 speed manual transmission to further drive down costs. In India, though Audi is expected to retain the 7 speed dual clutch automatic gearbox on the cut price diesel variant as well as luxury SUVs in India are synonymous with automatic transmissions.

It will be interesting to see whether Audi retains the 2 liter TDI turbo diesel engine’s current 177 Bhp-350 Nm state of tune or whether the Volkswagen group German luxury car giant will opt to use the 140 Bhp-320 Nm state of tune on the entry level Q3. The entry level diesel, front wheel driven variant of the Audi Q3 is expected to be priced about 3-4 lakhs lower than the current base variant of the Audi Q3 2.0 TDI model. Currently, the base version Audi Q3 2.0 TDI Quattro sells for 27.21 lakh rupees, ex-showroom Delhi. The locally assembled, front wheel driven variant, at about 3-4 lakh rupees cheaper, could give the likes of the Mercedes Benz A-Class and B-Class models, and the BMW X1 a real run for their monies.

Quoted text source: Indiancarsbikes.in

Pics source: ACI forum exclusive

[AMG1 0]

This could be a manual verson as well. Lets wait and watch!

[librankur 39]

The A1 effect it seems but wasnt the Audi CEO confident when he said that who will buy an A1 when Q3 is already available .

Time to bite the bullet it seems.

[Sstar 77]

It looks Audi has already moved in right direction to keep the #1 slot safely defended from A-Class. This Q3 version would definitely be a 2-5 lacks cheaper than quattro Q3.

[Diptanshu Mishra 1]

They should a actually look at the price of a tad less than 25 lacs as the first BMW X1 had the same starting price of under 25 lacs.....this should make the Q3 the killer car of this segment

[AMG1 0]

Autocar India has full dope on the upcoming Audi Q3 sport, this is the base Q3 variant with a 6-speed manual

http://www.autocarindia.com/News/347817,audi-q3-sport-coming-soon.aspx

[librankur 39]

Audi Q3 Sports Edition launched

Priced at 24.99 L (Delhi) , its the cheapest Audi around.Which is 4 L cheaper than the standard Q3 Diesel version

[UVian 3]

It is a very tempting price point, for someone who wants to own an Audi !!

I heard they are taking online bookings also, and on the first day 125 bookings were received. Exclusion of DRL is sad though

[librankur 39]

Audi Q3 S had an option of booking online and what a hit it was.

As reported on many TV car shows it garnered 1 booking every 1 minute , 25 bookings in the first 25 minutes .

Looks like a planned move to me.