Audi ready to capitalise on big 2020

Saturday, 5 December 2020

The Stuff Top Sports/Performance SUV for 2020 is the Audi RS Q3.

Audi New Zealand is in a good position to take on 2021 after a massive year, shaking off any Covid-induced effects.

Speaking at a recent Audi RS drive day at Hampton Downs, Audi NZ boss, Dean Sheed, called 2020 the “year we’ve been waiting for”, despite everything else happening in the world. Audi has introduced 25 new or updated models, including eight RS models and two EVs (e-tron 50 and e-tron Sportback).

He said that Audi New Zealand ranks among the best in the world for sales in S and RS models. Combined, the higher-specced Audi models are responsible for two-fifths of Audi’s total registrations, with 264 S models and 251 RS cars leaving the lots for the year up until October. The RS uptake is nearly double the next best market, Hong Kong.

The RS Q3 is a massive winner for Audi, responsible for around 30 per cent of the RS brand's sales.

Out of the RS line-up the Top Cars-winning RS Q3 is the top gun, taking 30 per cent of this year’s RS registrations. Following are the RS 6 and RS 4 wagons, with 23 and 18 per cent respectively, then the RS 3 (10 per cent) and the RS Q8 with nine per cent.

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We should be seeing the Taycan-based e-tron GT sometime around July next year.

* Top Sports/Performance SUV: Audi RS Q3

* Five Things: our five favourite cars to wear the RS badge

* Sunday Drive: Audi S4 vs RS 4

* First drive: Audi e-tron Sportback

* Strength in numbers for Audi RS models

“The e-tron family will continue to expand in New Zealand in 2021 with the arrival of the e-tron GT by mid-year in both GT and RS GT versions, followed by the high performance “S” models of the current e-tron in both SUV and Sportback body styles. Globally we will reveal the new Q4 e-tron our all electric mid size SUV towards the end of 2021. This car will become a volume seller for us locally sometime in 2022.”

The flagship four-door e-tron GT doesn’t quite top the Porsche Taycan, (likely by design – Porsche probably wouldn’t like to be beaten by a different version of its own car), making a maximum of 434kW.

Following will be the RS e-tron GT, which get a bunch of RS-specific improvements, including a power bump. It should make closer to 475kW. That compares to the Taycan Turbo’s 500kW/850Nm and the Turbo S’ 560kW/1050Nm. Though we’d imagine Audi will price the e-tron GT a fair step below the $289,900 for the Turbo and $366,900 for the Turbo S.

Sheed confirmed that there have already been an impressive number of expressions of interest in the go-fast electric RS, before it’s even been revealed in full.