SQ2 confirmed for Australia

Audi Australia has confirmed that the new Audi SQ2 will arrive here around the middle of next year, bringing S performance to the compact luxury Q2 range. The compact, high-performance SUV will bring with it a host of new technology and of course its distinctive polygonal design when it debuts Down Under, adding another dimension to the brand’s performance offering.

The SQ2 gives the ‘ultimate urban SUV’ serious performance credentials, its 2.0 TFSI powerplant developing 221kW of power and 400Nm of torque between 2000rpm and 5300rpm for a 100km/h time from standstill of 4.9 seconds. Add to that its S sport suspension and quattro permanent all-wheel drive and you have a serious driver’s vehicle on your hands.

With its seven-speed S tronic transmission, the SQ2 is still capable of delivering fuel economy of  7.7L/100km when not pushing the limits, so it remains the perfect urban campaigner, but it is the S treatment that brings a whole new dimension to the segment.

The perfect size for day-to-day life in the city, at 4.21 metres long, and with 355 litres of luggage space (1000 litres with the rear seats down), the SQ2 is also perfect for weekend or extended getaways. 

With Audi Drive select, the S sport suspension (which lowers the body by 20 millimetres) and standard progressive steering, the SQ2 is as agile negotiating city traffic as it is on a country road. Riding on 18-inch alloy wheels (with 235/45 tyres) housing big, 340 millimetres front disc brakes and and 310 millimetres at the rear axle in distinctive S red, the appeal to those with wanting the best of both worlds is obvious.

When the original Q2 first arrived on the world stage in 2016 it was its edgy, multi-faceted design which captured most of the attention as well as numerous international design awards. That ground-breaking design remains albeit significantly revised in the SQ2, the octagonal Singleframe now lower, and the slats in its insert also point to the polygon theme that characterises the entire car. There are narrow slits between the grille and the bonnet and wide frames painted in selenite silver surround the large implied air inlets.

LED headlights are standard as are LED lights on the rear as standard, while customers can also opt for Matrix LED headlights which also feature dynamic indicators. 

The SQ2 features aluminium-look mirror housings, highlighted strips along the sills, roof edge spoiler and the silver blades on the C-pillar. The rear bumper with its pentagonal polygons varies the design motif of the front apron and two exhaust pipes are framed by the diffuser insert. 

Customers can choose from 10 colours and the blades on the C-pillars are available in selenite silver (standard), vehicle colour, Manhattan grey, platinum grey, and brilliant black. With the black styling package, the Singleframe, the air inlet grilles, and the diffuser are finished in gloss black, and the bumpers feature a contrasting paint finish. The SQ2 exterior package also applies black styling to the mirror housings, the blade on the C-pillar, and the exhaust trims, while the roof-edge spoiler features a special contour and quattro logos ere added to the doors.

Inside, the SQ2 is all Audi S car, with its dark tones, stainless steel pedals and illuminated door sills with S logos. 

All equipment in the SQ2 model is bundled in packages with four packages for the upholstery and colours. Customers can choose from a combination of fabric and leather (standard), pure fine Nappa leather – with a rhombus pattern as an option – and a mixture of leather and the microfibre material Dinamica, which is replacing Alcantara. This material looks and feels like suede but is made of recycled polyester, which is sourced from textiles and PET bottles. 

The Audi SQ2 comes as standard with automatic air conditioning, a sport multifunction steering wheel and sport seats. The optional features are bundled in the climate control, comfort, function, interior, infotainment, dynamism, and assist systems packages. In terms of operation and infotainment, the range extends to the Audi virtual cockpit, which can be switched over to a sports view, and the MMI navigation plus (available with the navigation package) which is operated via a rotary pushbutton on the centre console.

The SQ2 will also be available with Audi connect services with LTE plus speed on board, as well as a Wi-Fi hotspot. The services of Audi connect emergency call & service and Audi connect remote & control are new additions and are both part of the standard equipment, while the Audi smartphone interface, the Audi phone box, and the Bang & Olufsen Premium Sound System complete the infotainment line-up. 

The SQ2 also features an impressive list of standard safety and driver assistance systems, as as well as a number of optional systems which customers will be able to add, including the latest adaptive cruise assist and park assist which steers the SQ2 into and out of parking spaces automatically. 

Exact specification for the Australian market is yet to be confirmed, with more information on this and pricing available closer to the SQ2’s arrival Down Under in 2021.