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Audi Q3 Vail, a one-off show car for
America's 2012 Detroit Motor Show.
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Audi Q3 Vail
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10th January, 2012
Audi is unveiling a themed vehicle of a special kind at the Detroit Motor
Show in USA: the Audi Q3 Vail, with an output of 231 kW. The compact SUV, which is named after the famous winter sports
venue in the United States, unites a powerful presence with a sporty lifestyle. The Q3 Vail is a highlight of the new
model series that only launched last year.
The Audi Q3 Vail represents a new, potential variation on the SUV concept. The themed vehicle has been designed for
young enthusiasts of winter sports who enjoy skiing or snowboarding. The Audi Q3 Vail is a sporty compact SUV offering
many practical attributes, an elegant appearance and individual design highlights.
The themed vehicle is painted in the colour developed specially for it – Energy Red. The red paint contains golden
pearlescent particles. The add-on body parts are in matt grey quartz-based paint, and underline the vehicle’s robust and
rugged appearance. The high-gloss package, a characteristic feature of the model line, enhances the area around the
windows with eye-catching elements in aluminium and high-gloss black.
Vertical struts made from aluminium are integrated in the single-frame grille. They extend across the full height of
the grille. In the area of the horizontal panel, which carries the licence plate on series-built vehicles, they are pulled
outwards to striking effect.
The struts exhibit the two-tone theme that the Audi designers developed for the Q3 Vail: their lateral edges are
painted in matt quartz-based paint, and the slim front faces have a high-gloss finish.
In the headlights the zones in the lower area of the light-guide elements, which hold the daytime running lights, are
painted anthracite. The side air inlets further emphasise the themed vehicle’s powerful appearance; their top areas are
covered by solid aluminium panels. The underbody guard beneath the front end is also made from aluminium.
Eyecatching features on the sides of the Q3 Vail are the flared wheel arches and running boards, which Audi is to
incorporate into the extensive range of Q3 accessories. The restyled aluminium roof rails are specially designed for
transporting skis and snowboards – these two items of sports equipment are made from carbon fibre.
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The front roof-rail support integrates compact, energy-efficient, wide-angled LED lights that illuminate the area
around the Audi Q3 Vail. They are controlled via buttons in the roof module.
The Audi Q3 Vail is fitted with five-arm 20 x 8.5-inch wheels. Mirroring the single-frame grille, their visible
edges have a high-gloss finish, while the inside areas feature the same matt quartz-based paint. The off-road tyres are
size 255/45. Track width has increased 40 millimetres at the front and rear compared to series-built models, and the
body is 30 millimetres higher. The themed vehicle also features unique solutions at the back – the two tailpipes of the
dual-branch exhaust system are integrated in the diffuser and underbody guard area.
In the interior of the Audi Q3 Vail, three colours offer an ambience of sophistication and sporty elegance – black,
grey and red. The headlining is made from titanium grey Alcantara; large parts of the interior, including the carpet, are
black. The black, ribbed floor mats are edged with narrow strips of red velvet-finish leather.
An innovative leather/fabric material is used for the upholstery – thin strips of leather just a few tenths of a
millimetre wide, are interwoven with yarn. The upholstery features piping with double seams; like the contrasting
stitching, the piping is red. Small sections of the upholstery are made from red velvet-finish leather – a hard wearing
material that looks similar to leather at first glance, but in fact has a finer structure. The segments integrated in the
door trims are also in red velvet-finish leather, trimmed in steel grey Fine Nappa leather.
The entire instrument panel in the themed vehicle is trimmed in black Fine Nappa leather. Contrasting stitching in
titanium grey is an elegant highlight. The leather across the top of the instrument cluster is steel grey with red
contrasting stitching. This colour scheme is replicated on the door armrests at the front and rear. The front section of
the centre tunnel also has a leather trim.
The inlays around the S tronic selector level, at the front of the cockpit and in the doors comprise a
three-dimensional stainless steel mesh that requires a complex manufacturing process. The selector lever features a
high-gloss black ring and an aluminium badge with a milled ‘Q3 Vail’ signature. The lever gaiter is enhanced by red
stitching.
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Aluminum takes 'centre stage' in the instrument cluster. The most striking elements are the metal dials around the
speedometer and rev counter. They were made using a rotary-grinding process. Metal is also used on their rings and around
the edges of the control lights. Horizontal bars and small fins give the dials and needle centres a sporty,
three-dimensional look. The leather steering wheel features red contrasting stitching and an aluminium trim. Behind it
are two large shift paddles for manually controlling the seven-speed S tronic. The footrest and the pedals have thin pads
made from rubber. Slits offer a glimpse of the stainless steel beneath the pads.
In some parts of the interior the trims are in high-gloss black – the display and control elements on top of them
appear to float. This applies to the area surrounding the driver information system, the zone around the air vents, the
periphery of the MMI terminal and the row of switches on the centre console. Aluminium inserts give the black switches an
air of sophistication. Chrome trims adorn the controls of the air conditioning system; the air vents have black ribs and
chrome-trimmed rotary knobs.
The soft keys for the MMI navigation plus system are made from aluminium, while the control terminal benefits visually
from narrow strips of the same material. The monitor, which can be folded out manually, has a trim that matches the
surface of the instrument panel. The system includes an animation showing the longitudinal and latitudinal tilt angle of
the Audi Q3 Vail. In regions that are not included in the map data, the MMI navigation plus system logs the GPS
coordinates of the route – for assistance during the return journey.
The interior of the Audi Q3 Vail includes two practical devices for winter sports fans. The side wall of the boot
contains a charging station. It can be used for storing flashlights and charging them inductively at the same time. The
same technology is used for the Thermos bottle. It is located in the cup holder between the front seats and is able to
chill or warm drinks. Both devices have LEDs that show the current charge level. One attractive extra is that, in addition
to LED lighting, the flashlights incorporate an infra-red heating element that can be used for warming your hands or a
pair of ski boots.
Another intelligent solution in the themed vehicle is the boot mat, which has integrated heated seat cushions. The mat
can be folded out and laid over the loading lip. This protects the boot edge while the vehicle is being loaded or
unloaded, and also provides a warm area to sit on when putting on or taking off your ski boots. Small LED spotlights on
the inside of the tailgate provide light.
The Audi Q3 Vail features a 2.5-litre five-cylinder TFSI engine with direct injection and turbocharging that generates
an output of 231 kW and 400 Nm of torque from a displacement of 2,480 cc.
The engine’s five cylinders are consecutively numbered; red wrinkled-finish paint has been applied to the cylinder head
cover. A panel made from carbon-fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) partially covers the engine, and the air filter is also
protected against dirt. There is a decorative trim made from plastic around the engine compartment. The acoustic mat on
the inside of the engine bonnet has a “Q3 Vail” logo embroidered in dark grey.
The power of the turbocharged five-cylinder unit is transferred to the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system via a
seven-speed S tronic transmission. The Audi Q3 Vail accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 5.5 seconds and continues to a
top speed of 262 km/h.
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