Audi unveiled the 2017 Q2, its smallest SUV to date, at the 2016 Geneva Show. Riding on VW Group's MQB modular architecture and fitting into the company’s Q-series SUV models below the Q3, the Q2 measures 4.19 m (13.7 ft) long, with a wheelbase length of 2.60 m (8.5 ft)—same as an A3 three-door.

The car is 1.79 m (5.9 ft) wide and 1.51 m (5.0 ft) tall. Audi quotes a base model drag coefficient of 0.30 Cd.

Six engines will be available when Q2 goes on sale in Europe in fall 2016. There will be three turbocharged direct-injection gasoline engines from VW's TFSI family and three direct-injection turbocharged diesels. All powertrains are used in other VW Group models. The three TFSI units include a 1.0-L 3-cylinder rated at 85 kW (114 hp), a 1.4-L 4-cylinder with cylinder deactivation producing a claimed 110 kW (148 hp), and a 2.,0-L 4-cylinder rated at a claimed 140 kW (188 hp).

The diesel offerings range from a 1.6 L rated at 85 kW (114 hp), and two 2.0-L TDI engines delivering 110 kW (148 hp) and 140 kW (188 hp).

The most powerful gasoline and diesel engines are equipped with Quattro all-wheel-drive as standard. Awd is also available with the 1.4 TFSI and 110-kW 2.0 TDI engines. The Quattro system’s electronically controlled multi-plate clutch will transfer most drive torque to the front wheels in regular driving but torque can be quickly vectored to the rear axle as required.

Transmission options are either 6-speed manual or 7-speed S tronic dual clutch automated manual. The most powerful 2.0-L TFSI and TDI engines are equipped with a newly developed DCT as standard. A new oil supply system for the transmission is claimed by VW engineers to reduce friction.

With short overhangs and compact dimensions there are design similarities with the larger Q3, but the Q2 uses its own unique design features. As exterior designer Matthias Fink explained to Automotive Engineering, the Q2 "has a coupe-like cabin with a dipping roof line, with a long spoiler on the trunk lid, so it extends the roof to give the really sporty character of a coupe.”

Design-line and S-line trim is distinguished by the blade color on the C-pillar — in silver for S-line models and a dark color for Design-line. “What you read is not the real height of the cabin, you just see the blade and you think that it has really dropped because you see a low and wide pillar — an optical effect that helps the car to look more sporty and more compact,” he explained.

Audi has adopted sharp swage lines in the front and rear fender stampings which open out into broad, flattened sections running along the tops of the doors. “This is our special highlight,” Fink said. “This is the main design language of this car.”

Q2 has been designed to appeal to young drivers and the sharp angles represent ‘edgy’ styling to attract their attention. “Imagine when we started to build up this car, we started with a quite common architecture," Fink recalled. "We had the 'shoulder' and we had the 'torso' — the main body side, connected with this sharp line. Then we took a sharp tool, a sharp knife and we cut something out of this volume and we created this signature of this car, this polygon. We started building up this really amazing posture and proportion and then we cut something out.”

Fink says the design team achieved two other effects with this process. “First we brought the shoulder line in between the wheels really low. That makes the cabin sit optically in between the wheels and this gives the car a stable and robust character," he noted.

“The other effect is that when you bring this line lower, you bring the shoulder line above the wheels really high, it’s a natural optical effect. We also had the picture of an American football player, because an American football player pulls up the shoulders while the head is sitting in between, protected by the strong, muscular shoulders. And this is what we have here in the appearance of the Q2.”

This design language with the polygonal shape of the waistline is repeated around the car in the shape of the front grille, the headlamps, the shape of the side lower front air intakes and also in the shape of the rear light clusters.