Audi Q3 Trans China Tour 2011 starts in Beijing
5,700 kilometers (3,542 miles) through China, Audi’s biggest single market
20 Audi Q3 cars, 160 participants, 16 stages and fascinating routes
The compact Audi Q3 also to be available in China starting in 2012
The Audi Q3 Trans China Tour 2011 starts tomorrow in Beijing. At the wheel of the new Audi Q3, the roughly 160 participants will get an intense experience of the country that has become the most important sales market for the Ingolstadt-based carmaker. During 16 stages and a route covering a total of about 5,700 kilometers, the participants will experience the dependability of the new Audi Q3 in every situation, from driving through the dynamic metropolitan centers to the off-road drives through spectacular mountain landscapes.
The Audi Q3 Trans China Tour presents the rich and fascinating world that is China. It leads through the booming megacities of Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, as well as through the surroundings of Shenzhen with its enormous concentration of large-scale industrial companies. It also leads time and again through the countryside, and often through singular landscapes like the Karst mountain range at Guilin. China has meanwhile become the most important sales market for the Audi brand; around 300,000 units are targeted for the current year.
Four groups of participants will divide the entire route among themselves, with each group driving for four days. The first group will drive south from Beijing to Shanghai, and the second will drive on from there to Shenzhen. The destination for the third group is the city of Guilin, and the fourth group will ultimately arrive at the final stop of the tour in Hong Kong.
The Audi Q3 is the perfect car for the great Trans China tour. Its sporty character, strong and efficient engine and outstanding comfort make even long drives a pleasure. Thanks to its off-road features, the compact Audi SUV also feels at home on rough terrain, and with its neat body it negotiates just as effortlessly through traffic in big city streets.
The Q3 is immediately recognizable as the youngest member of the large Audi family – with its coupe-like lines lending it a sporty character. Sharp edges frame the elegantly curved surfaces of its body panels, and distinctive lights accentuate the front and rear. The wedge-shaped headlights are optionally available with xenon plus units including LED daytime running lights, which Audi also combines with LED taillights.
The range of driver assistance systems redefines the compact SUV class. The park assist system maneuvers the vehicle into tight parking spots autonomously; all the driver has to do is accelerate and brake. The system also detects and warns of obstacles to the sides. Audi side assist helps when changing lanes by using radar to detect cars in the blind spot. Audi active lane assist helps drivers stay on course by warning if they appear to be inadvertently drifting out of lane. The speed limit display detects and presents important traffic signs in the display between the speedometer and the tachometer.
Audi offers a comprehensive range of modular infotainment components. Topping the range of options is the hard-drive navigation system MMI navigation plus, which displays high-resolution 3D graphics on a fold-out 7-inch color monitor. The Surround Sound System from Bose features 14 loudspeakers and a maximum output of 465 watts.
The technical sophistication of the Q3 is illustrated by its four-link rear suspension, electromechanical power steering and 16-inch to 19-inch diameter wheels. An electromechanical parking brake and hill hold assist are standard, and hill-descent assist will be available later. Audi drive select enables the driver to adjust the steering, gas pedal characteristic and optional active shock absorbers in four levels to suit his or her individual driving style.
Audi Q3 customers currently can choose from among one TDI engine and two TFSI units. The three four-cylinder engines combine direct fuel injection with turbocharging and a start-stop system. They feature power outputs ranging from 125 kW (170 hp) to 155 kW (211 hp) and are as efficient as they are powerful. In the version with the 103 kW (140 hp) 2.0 TDI and front-wheel drive, which is to follow shortly after the market launch, the Q3 uses an average of 5.2 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers (45.23 mpg).
Audi has been present on the Chinese market since 1988, and produces the Audi A4 L, the Audi A6 L and the Audi Q5 in Changchun in a joint venture with its partner FAW. The Audi Q3 will also be built in Changchun in the future. Initially, though, the compact Audi SUV will be available starting in 2012 as an import.
Between January and September 2011, Audi delivered 223,631 cars in China, which amounts to an increase of 29 percent compared with the same period last year. This record result clearly confirms the brand’s position as market leader in the premium segment in China.