Audi Q3 RS Rendered, Coming to Europe Late Next Year?

The picture you see above is a rendering done by blog Virtuel-car to help us visualize a rumored Audi Q3 RS SUV. A few days ago, German car website Auto Motor und Sport reported on the possibility of a new performance iteration of the recently-introduced Q3. If that is what it will look like, we like what we see. It is one hot-looking small CUV.

However, it is one we likely won't be seeing in the United States even if it gets the green light for production. Given its small size and high price point, Audi has opted to keep the Q3 Europe-only (for now, anyway). This is despite BMW planning to release its competitor, the X1, for U.S consumers  BMW has said it only plans to sell the X1 in low volumes when it does make its way here though.

A proposed Q3 RS would be powered by Audi's 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder. That engine also does duty in Audi performance models like the TT-RS, RS3 hatchback, concept A1 Clubsport Quattro and Volkswagen's Golf 24 racing car.

The turbo five produces 335 horsepower in the TT-RS and RS3. In the Q3 RS it could be tuned for more torque, making the small CUV a real hauler. The Q3 RS would also have the advantage of beating BMW to market with an X1 M. Auto Motor und Sport says it could be seen (in Europe, that is) as soon as Fall of 2012.