The Q2 will be phased out after just one generation, according to Audi. Because the Four Rings will favour bigger and more expensive automobiles, the A1 supermini will face the same fate. What does this mean for the A3? The little vehicle, according to CEO Markus Duesmann, has a future in Ingolstadt’s portfolio, where it will serve as the entry-level model once the A1 and Q2 are phased out.
The last part of his comment implies that more than one model will be available. It’s unclear whether he meant the Sportback and Sedan, or one of the two body styles in combination with the Q3. The newly previewed Cupra Terramar will be constructed at the same Györ facility in Hungary as the mechanically linked next-gen Q3, indicating a crossover in this segment.
Audi’s CEO didn’t say much about the A3’s future course, but our logic says it’ll be marketed only as an electric vehicle. The German luxury manufacturer has already stated that its final ICE-powered vehicle would be released in 2025. Meanwhile, the current fourth-generation A3 was released in May 2020 and is expected to last until roughly 2027. By that time, all new Audis will have been completely electric.
Archival Mercedes will reduce the number of tiny models from seven to four, according to a recent report, while BMW’s little ICE-powered vehicles may be in peril. The German triumvirate appears to be progressively shifting its focus to larger vehicles, which offer far higher profit margins despite being sold in less quantities.
Returning to the A3, spy pictures have revealed that a high-riding variant is on the way, probably bearing the Allstreet suffix to complement the freshly renamed jacked-up A1. By 2024, a mid-cycle redesign is scheduled, which will incorporate the hot S3 and RS3. Needless to say, the classic inline-five engine is nearing the end of its life, so you may want to act quickly.
Source: Drive.com.au
