•Mark MusutuAudi launched its first SUV, the Q7, just over a deºcade ago, and it was followed up by smaller SUVs: The Q5, the Q3 and lately the new kid on the block – the Q2.
The SUV/Cross-over Q2 was first revealed to the public in March 2016 at the Geneva Motor Show and later hit major markets in November 2016. The Q2 hit the southern African market about a month ago and is the freshest SUV or cross-over anywhere on the planet.
#Untaggable is the mantra for the newly introduced Audi Q2. This simply means you cannot connect it to anything else. If you are social media savvy then you already knew this and if you are up to date with social media vocabulary, you will know that the hashtag means emphasis; though before this trendy vocabulary, it was more to symbolise the word ‘number’ or indicate numbering – and still does in many sects of life.
Untaggable means it’s one of a kind, something standing alone, not following others. Very true to claim, the new Q2 is an Audi out of the mould. It’s an out-of-the-box fresh thinking kind of car.
Looking at the #Untaggable theme, you will know who or which market the Q2 is made for. Its primary market is the connected generation, the social media savvy, we can also call them the tech savvy. The Q2 seems to be a vessel to physically connect those who are already connected electronically, and who better to make such a car than Audi?
Unlike the Audi custom of being conservative, the Q2 is a totally new offering, though sticking to the core ‘Vorsprung Durch Technik’ motto.
The Q2 is kind of a shrunken SUV but wearing 19 inch wheels. My first impressions were funky, high tech, classy and refined. Other impressions came as we drove along: Outdoor, nippy, sporty, sassy and full of urban vibe.
Based on a design theme of bold polygons, the Q2 is work of Marc Lichte, Audi’s new design chief. The Q2 looks distinctly different from its siblings, thanks to floating blade like contrast C pillars (last seen on the R8 super car), coupe like roof line and chiselled shoulders, it’s got geometrical shapes throughout and it will get attention. It carries a love-it-or-hate-it aura, something it has borrowed from the TT.
Rated as a compact SUV and cross-over, the Q2 is made for singles or couples, not for family. It falls in the same bracket as the Mini Countryman, Mercedes GLA, BMW X1 and Jeep Renegade.
The interior of the Q2 speaks volumes about its uniqueness simply affirming what its exterior expresses. Funk, outdoors, sportiness, etc. All coated in the exceptional Audi refinement, the Q2’s interior is way above its league.
Most notable are the sporty seats covered in Milano leather. These combine very well with the anodised red strips to emphasise its sportiness. A virtual cockpit, head up display and its clever mix of black leather and aluminum finishing, not forgetting my personal favourite, the panoramic roof.
We drove the Q2 around Windhoek on a random quest for an open road, and we got to explore the Audi drive connect with functions such as Google Street View, Twitter on current weather information, mobile data services and a Bang and Olufsen sound system that I didn’t hesitate to blast.
Other features include: Active lane keeping, dynamic drive modes, pedestrian sensitive city auto braking, live traffic, radar cruise control, adaptive damping, sign recognition, head up display, torque vectoring control and all basics such as ESC and EBD.
Audis are ultra light and you can feel it everywhere. The weight loss hasn’t only come out of the body, but rather a relentless weight saving measure throughout the car, from wiring to seats to suspension to steering, including less metallic finishes. As a result, the Q2 weighs in at just
1 205 kg.
This leanness makes it agile and responsive. When pressed hard, it takes off vigorously – from 0 to
100 km/h in about seven seconds. You will feel it surge in second gear and continue in a smooth climb thanks to its 1,4 litre, 110 kW delivering 114 to 117 bhp channelled via a seven-speed S-tronic gearbox. The Q2 is an above average sprinter.
A break from tradition, it’s the freshest SUV or cross-over anywhere on the planet. It’s a head-turner that’s full of vibe. It’s agile and exciting to drive. I close with words from Audi: “While others are still trying to define the Q2, you already know where you are going”. It’s just Untaggable.
