X3 Competitor coming

Just found it and have to admit that if this is what is going to come out of Audi in late 2006 (early 2007??) then it might give X3 run for the money...

It reminds me of that description somebody else had: "pregnant rollerskate".

Give the X3 a run for it's money? Seeing that it's ugly and dynamically will be inferior, I think the X3 will have nothing to worry about.

I think X3 has nothing to worry about.

That is pretty ugly

Originally Posted by dnickels

That is pretty ugly

FREAKIN' BUTT UGLY!

And then they are coming with the 7-seater Q7 to compete with X5
www.audi.com/q7

Why does that look so much like FX35/45?

Uuhh, guys!...

Reality check! Whether that proposed Audi is ugly or not, let us all take a step back and look at the X3 again! It was never a beauty contest winner - for any of the good old, gold BMW standards, it is way to "busy" and complicated.

Granted, the stance is beautiful but the sheetmetal they put on that skeleton, is not. I simply refuse to believe that if they put their heads together they could not come up with something better...

I have driven the X3 and found it to drive absolutely brilliant! But you cannot say for sure what the Audi will or will not be worse dynamically. In any case, it WILL be a competitor to the X3 (similar size, power, features and price).

Please remember, competition is GREAT. If it were not for the A4, the E46 would not be such a leap in interior materials quality over the E36 that it is.

Of course, this is just my opinion and you can flame away .

adc
03 330 ZHP
05 X3? in the works
98 A4

but I agree with others who have said the audi is, ahem, unattractive. But maybe it's just the color ? In any case, the blend of driving dynamic, looks, and price is what makes me want an x3. Looks are subjective, obviously, and I'm baffled why so many folks like the Murano, and the other bulbous baby-shoe shaped cars, aka "pregnant roller skates."

I also agree that competition is good, but I wouldn't look twice at the Audi. Well, maybe twice, just to figure out what it is.

No flame intended, adc!

Originally Posted by smokeminside

but I agree with others who have said the audi is, ahem, unattractive. But maybe it's just the color ? In any case, the blend of driving dynamic, looks, and price is what makes me want an x3.

I kept quiet so far so I don't get accused of "trolling". For the record, I now drive an Audi, but had both, and now I am considering buying X3 this fall with European Delivery...

I think we should not get ahead of ourselves with opinions here... we don't even know what kind of engines Audi is going to put in this thing and from what I have read their new FSI engines are getting rave reviews. Audi also is tweaking their Quattro system to be more rear wheel biased starting with RS4 but I am sure this will make it into the rest of their lineup in the future... so 'driving dynamics' shouldn't be a factor here until we have the actual car to compare...

Now looking just at the sheet metal (because that is all we can discuss here about Q5 with the information given)... I see Infiniti FX resemblance, but I also see the Audi's Steppenwolf concept resemblance from few years back. While the shape resembles FX I think the nose is shorter and will not stick out in driver's view like Infiniti does...and the car will be smaller and nimbler than FX.

I think X3 shape and stance is good, I like the front and the back design... I am not a fan of the side design and overall car shape (not to mention somewhat spartan interior design).

I have to admitt that Audi wins the overall 'look' contest for me. I like the dynamic more rounded look better....the car looks more aggressive to me, so on looks alone my vote goes to Audi.

So it will be interesting what changes make it into 2006 X3 model. I hope BMW gives in and does something to the plastic bumpers (outside of the Aero package..), and continues to improve the interior look...we should find out this summer right?

Originally Posted by szuszu

I think we should not get ahead of ourselves with opinions here... we don't even know what kind of engines Audi is going to put in this thing and from what I have read their new FSI engines are getting rave reviews. Audi also is tweaking their Quattro system to be more rear wheel biased starting with RS4 but I am sure this will make it into the rest of their lineup in the future... so 'driving dynamics' shouldn't be a factor here until we have the actual car to compare...

I agree, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I don't happen to like the look of the Audi in the photos posted, but reserve judgement on it until I can put it thru it's paces. It just may be a great car, or a dog. I won't know until I get behind the wheel.