CKD Audi Q3 to be priced at 25 lakh; A3 sedan coming in 2014

Audi India's Managing Director Mr. Michael Perschke has put a price figure in front of the CKD assembled Audi Q3. 25 lakh rupees is the price at which the German luxury car maker plans to position the CKD assembled Q3 at. At that price point, the Audi Q3 crossover will be the lowest priced luxury car in Audi's Indian car range. CKD assembly of the Audi Q3 is expected to begin in the second half of 2013, with the imported CKD kits being assembled at Audi's Aurangabad facility (Maharashtra).

Now, the 25 lakh rupee price figure that Mr Perschke has stated is quite an interesting one. From the looks of it, Audi could continue using the Quattro all wheel drive layout, the same 2 liter TDI turbo diesel engine in 170 Bhp-350 Nm state of tune and the 7 speed dual clutch automatic transmission. Although the Audi Q3's international entry level variant comes with a 2 liter TDI engine outputting 140 Bhp-320 Nm, a 6 speed manual gearbox and a front wheel drive layout, this variant might not be what will be sold in India as the entry level Q3 model. 

We say this as the CBU imported Audi Q3's base variant is currently priced at 27.21 lakhs, ex-showroom Delhi. The CKD assembled crossover, priced at 25 lakh rupees means that Audi will not have to de-content the Q3 to arrive at the lower price tag as the lower import duty on the CKD model will deliver the required cost savings for the luxury car brand. At 25 lakh rupees, Audi India plans to attract buyers of other luxury crossovers such as the Honda CR-V and the Mitsubishi Outlander into the Audi fold. 

However, the Audi Q3's price advantage of being the least priced car to wear the four ringed badge on the bonnet might not last for too long. In 2014, Audi India plans to launch the A3 sedan, a car that is expected to become the entry level luxury car in Audi's range. A 1.8 liter TSI engine delivering 160 Bhp-250 Nm and a 2 liter TDI turbo diesel engine with 140 Bhp-320 Nm could be the A3 sedan's engine options. The A3 sedan will be the first MQB based Audi car to be launched in India.  

Source DNA