Audi Q1 coming in 2012

Not a surprise of course, but Audi will unveil a small SUV based on the future A1 by the end of 2012.

Nobody needs them, environmentalists hate them, but they all want. What are we talking about? The SUVs of course! And how they always have been a success why not build more and more. So what the gas price gets higher, people will always buy them!

The Q1 will be the third model in the A1 line-up after the hatchback version that will be launched in 2010 and the cabrio version in 2011. Q1 will go on sale in early 2013.

The Q1 will be about 3.95 meters long (2.46-meter wheelbase) and will be based on a sport, clearly strengthened version of the PQ24 of the new Volkswagen Polo.

Under the hood there will be a wide choice of engines: 1.4-liter TFSI four-cylinder with 125 hp and 150 hp (simple compressor and turbo-charge). The top model will come later with up to 200 hp. Diesel version will be powered by a 1.2-liter TDI with about 80 hp, and a 1.6-liter with about 100 and 120 hp.