Audi’s Forbidden Fruits

                Many times car brands will release a model overseas and not release it in the states, and Audi is no different. Audi has released the A1 and the sportier version the S1, the Sportback and Cabriotlet versions of the S3, and A6 allroad to the European market. And that makes sense as Europe enjoys the smaller, sportier cars while North America gravitates towards the larger SUV style. But Audi has held out some of their newer SUVs from the American market. The Q2, RS Q3, Q5 TDI and Q7 e-tron TDI have all been kept away from those who crave them.

In America the Q3 is Audi’s answer to the subcompact SUV, but in Europe, there exists the Q2. The Q2 has a wheelbase virtually identical to the Q3, But the Q2 is shorter overall, narrower and has a slightly lower roofline. The Q2 produces a range of 116 to 190 hp depending on whether or not you choose the gasoline or diesel powertrain. This is the pinnacle of the small luxury SUV, but Audi doesn’t believe that the Q2 would have success in the states.

Audi also produces the RS Q3, which represents a perfect mix of style and performance with its turbocharged, 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine that develops 340 hp as well as 332 lb.-ft. of torque. This little speedster goes 0-60 in 4.8 seconds and tops out at 155 mph, just not on American roads

While we will be getting the new 2018 Q5, we will not be getting the 2.0 and 3.0 TDI engines. These TDI models would add to the Q5 being the bestselling Audi in our market, but do to the emissions problems that Volkswagen/Audi has been dealing with over the last couple years, they will stay overseas.

And what could be the crown jewel out of the bunch, the Audi Q7 e-tron TDI. This beast is a rare combination of a plug-in hybrid SUV that’s equipped with a diesel engine. It’s turbocharged V6 and electric motor combine to produce 258 hp, and in full hybrid it can be pushed to 374 hp. Oh and by the way, this Q7 can go to 0-60 in 6 seconds.