Audi confident about Chinese sales goals

Only the two entry-level variants that specifically cater to the Chinese market are front-wheel driven. The rest feature Audi's iconic quattro all-wheel drive system.

Unlike the Chinese versions of the A4 and the A6, which have a stretched wheelbase, the locally made Q3 is the same size as the imported model.

"That we didn't stretch the wheelbase a little bit like our competitors did is based on our deep understanding of the changing market, " Boesch explained.

Agility and handling

Maintaining the normal size of the Q3 ensures agility and handling while driving. He said that many people who were formerly chauffeured now drive, so they are concerned with both drivability and comfort.

He added that the locally made Q3 is not confined to the premium compact SUV market.

"It also targets customers who are above or below this segment or even do not belong to the segment."

He said the market is growing and that the word "dynamic" describes both the Q3 and its customers .

The company said the new Q3 is aimed at young and fashionable urban elites.

To cater to this group, the company made a short film titled A Tale of Two Cities.

Featuring two popular screen idols, the movie is a love story about a male art gallery owner and a female magazine editor who long to escape their boring lives. One day, the two are brought together by the Q3, which stands for freedom, an easy life and passion.

He said the locally made Q3 has further enriched Audi's China lineup, helping to make the Audi brand more specific and personalized in the country.

But he declined to say when the company will introduce the 1.4T and 1.8T version for localization. He said the current lineup is "based on what Chinese customers are asking for".

He said the new Q3 will build on the success of the Q5. The company cannot be 100 percent sure about the Q3's production capacity because delivery of the model has just begun on the Chinese market. But they have made enough preparations and will try their best to meet market demand.

"We have advantages both in the product itself and our localization in China," he added.

Reshaping trends

Boesch did not disclose the anticipated sales target of the locally made Q3 but said that the company believes the model has the potential to lead China's premium compact SUV market by "reshaping the trend."

In the first three months of 2013, Audi sold 101,800 vehicles, up 14 percent from a year earlier.