The Audi Q2 was supposed to be the smallest crossover in Audi’s lineup. It’ll still hold that distinction for a few years, but it’ll eventually cede that title to a new Q1 crossover that’s expected to get the production green light from Audi. Nothing has been confirmed yet, but if the Q1 does come to life, expect it to arrive sometime in the end of 2020.

On paper, this sounds like a bad idea. Audi already has the Q2 crossover, so it’s hard to understand why it’s going to build an even smaller model. Wouldn’t a Q1 crossover overlap the segment that the Q2 already belongs to? If you look at it from a deeper perspective, however, it’s one of those things that just might work given how in-demand crossovers and SUVs are these days. Audi sales and marketing chief Bram Schot even told Auto Express that the company is going to be aggressive if it sees an opportunity to do so. “You cannot ignore the SUV trend,” he said. “The question is how wide and how deep do we make the program with SUVs?” Apparently, a smaller version of the Q2 can fit into that program.

It’s still unclear on how Audi plans to work around developing the Q1, but the prevailing sentiment these days is that the German automaker will use the next-generation version of the A1 as the base for the Q1. That could mean a number of different things, including the likelihood that both models will use the Volkswagen Group’s MQB platform, which also happens to underpin the new SEAT Ibiza and the Volkswagen Polo. If that’s the case, don’t be surprised if the Q1 adopts a similar styling as well.

In terms of power, the Q1 will also benefit from a series of engine options, including an entry-level 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbo unit and a more powerful 1.5-liter engine. A 1.6-liter diesel is also in the cards, though that could be contingent on the markets Audi plans to sell the model. Don’t sleep on the possibility of seeing some form of hybrid technology on the small crossover, too. By the time it hits the market — probably before 2020 — the tech could have filtered down through Audi’s entry-level product lineup.

If anything, you also have to give Audi some credit for being aggressive with its push in the crossover and SUV markets. In addition to the planned Q1, it’s also rolling out an all-new Q4 and a flagship Q8 in the near future. Ultimately, the German automaker will likely have run through the whole alphanumeric naming run for its crossovers and SUVs. There’s going to be a Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, Q7, and Q8. All it needs is a Q6 and a Q9, and it’ll be set.

Ask Schot if that’s even possible and he’ll probably tell you not to bet any money against it. “Depending on the business opportunities, we decide on the future product portfolio,” he said.

References

Read our full speculative review on the 2020 Audi Q1.

Read our full speculative review on the 2018 Audi Q8.

Read our full review on the 2017 Audi Q2.

Read more Audi news.