New 400bhp Audi RS Q4 caught testing ahead of reveal

Audi's BMW X2 rival is expected to be unveiled in next couple of months, with Geneva debut possible
Mark Tisshaw
20 February 2019

Audi will bolster its six-strong SUV range with the new Q4 – and the range-topping 400bhp RS version has been spotted testing for the first time.

The Range Rover Evoque and BMW X2 rival is tipped to be unveiled in the next couple of months, with a Geneva show debut possibly on the cards. 

The standard version of the machine has previously been spied undergoing cold-weather testing, but the RS Q4 has now been captured on public roads.

Identifiable by its quad sports exhausts and grille and wheel styling, the RS Q4 is expected to use an all-new 2.5-litre five-cylinder petrol engine that produces up to 400bhp.

As with the previous spy pictures, the new shots show the style-focused, coupé-SUV design of the new machine, which is based on the latest generation Q3. The more distinctive styling is designed to help it take on models such as the new Evoque and X2.

The new shots reveal a front-end design that, as expected, shares much with the recently launched Q3, but also show a distinctly lower roofline and a sloping rear windscreen that meets a squarer tailgate. 

Audi exterior design boss Andreas Mindt previously said the Q4 was “a bit more than a coupé version of the Q4; to my eyes, a lot more”. He confirmed the designers had finished the styling last year, and that it had one feature in particular to really set it apart from other Audis.

Our Verdict

Audi Q3

Audi Q3 2018 review - hero front

Second-generation Q3 remains a good car but is rough around the edges when it comes to engine and gearbox

Find an Autocar car review

Driven this week

The German firm previously confirmed the Q4 would be produced in 2019 at its plant in Győr, Hungary.

It will be part of a growing line-up of style-led SUVs, spearheaded by the electric E-tron and range-topping Q8. 

The Q4 will sit on the same MQB underpinnings as the second-generation Q3. It is scheduled to arrive in showrooms in summer 2019 at a base price of around £28,000.

With the Q3 having grown in size in order to provide space in the range for the Q2, the Q4 looks set to be larger than its closest rivals. Audi insiders have revealed to Autocar that it will be at least 4500mm long – slightly longer than the Q3.

Plans for the Q4 were originally revealed by Audi in the form of the TT Offroad concept, which first appeared at the 2014 Beijing motor show.

Inside, the Q4 is set to benefit from a range of developments already under way at Audi and parent company Volkswagen for inclusion in the next generation of MQB-based models.

These include full-HD instrument displays, gesture control functions, a 9.2in touchscreen, wireless smartphone charging and the latest connectivity features.

Among the engines earmarked for the Q4 is a new generation of 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol and diesel units and updated versions of today’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines.

The new Q4 line-up will also feature a petrol-electric plug-in hybrid Q4 e-tron model with an electric-only range of up to 31 miles, as prescribed by China’s green vehicle regulations.

READ MORE

Audi Q8 SUV: Range Rover Sport and BMW X6 rival launched

Audi E-tron: brand's first full electric model to cost £70,805

New higher-spec Audi Q3 to cost nearly £3000 more than predecessor

Join the debate

Comments
15

fadyady

25 April 2016
Looks more like a copy of the BMW X4.

TS7

15 March 2017
...better than that. [quote=fadyady]Looks more like a copy of the BMW X4.[/quote]

geed

3 December 2018
fadyady wrote:

Looks more like a copy of the BMW X4.

Infiniti FX35/QX70...the car that started it all off but no no lpnger exists

TS7

15 March 2017
...fix the quote function.

Highline2.0

17 March 2017
Would prefer a TT allroad. Looks to similar to the bog standard Q range. It would need the grille from the q8 at least to give it some presence over the Q3.

Nadir Yaqoob

26 September 2018

Audi car is superb if we compare with BMW or others. not dought others car not good. but  I love audi because of its logo and pretty shape. i am busy all the day about my work bountifulbreast to dealing with customers related to breast growth or breast cancer. i will buy this car waiting for this as i feel some free.

Spanner

28 November 2018

Oh Nadir, you wag you.

Spanner

Peter Cavellini

28 November 2018

 Urus, looks a bit like it doesn’t it?

Peter Cavellini.

mpls

16 December 2018

What is it with these brands, Q4, X4  are they just copying each other...

On one corner we have

X1, X2, X3, X4, X, X6, X7, X8 ?

the other corner

Q1 ( coming soon) Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, Q6 ( development), Q7, Q8

 

Peter Cavellini

17 December 2018

 When will we finished wiypth the SUV thing?, seems a new design come# out the Factory Gates ever6 Week!

Peter Cavellini.

Pages

Add your comment

Log in or register to post comments

Find an Autocar car review

Driven this week