Audi unveils Q3 Vail, especially for winter sport fans
January's North American International Auto Show, NAIAS, hit the headlines for illustrating the sort of economic optimism we’ve all been missing. Among the exhibits were around 40 new concept cars – of which the Audi Q3 Vail was just one. This compact SUV is taller and wider than a production Q3, and is a concept designed for ‘young fans of winter sports who love skiing or snowboarding’.
The Q3 Vail’s styling is striking, energetic and youthful, from the flared arches and running boards to the winter-sports-specific roof rails, not to mention certain touches in the car’s interior – induction-warmed drinks flasks and a heated load floor mat, to park your chilly rear while you’re putting on or taking off your ski-boots, no doubt. And when you’re back in your driving shoes and ready to head homewards, the brawny, five-cylinder 310bhp 2.5-litre TFSI petrol engine, mated to seven-speed S tronic transmission, will whizz you on your way – from 0-62mph in 5.5 seconds to be precise, and on to a top speed of 163mph. In theory, anyway, although one might hope you’d avoid such speeds on icy roads…
