Audi SUV family set to grow

AUDI AG chairman Rupert Stadler has confirmed the German car-maker is persevering with plans to introduce a baby SUV dubbed the Q1, and a “sportier Q model” that could herald a Q6 to bump gloves with BMW's X6.

British publication Autocar reported the Audi boss as saying a “premium” car based on the Volkswagen Golf's MQB platform is justified given the rising popularity of compact SUVs, during his speech at the annual press conference this week.

The smaller of the two SUVs is due to arrive next year and is expected to be an upmarket offering, sitting above the current more affordable competitors in the segment, such as Ford's EcoSport and the Nissan Juke.

Mr Stadler also alluded to a second SUV that could go head-to-head with BMW's X6 along with the forthcoming Mercedes GLE Coupe.

The Q1 will slot into the SUV range underneath Audi's Q3, taking the line-up to six, while its bigger Q6 brother will likely sit alongside the mid-size Q5.

This is on top of the already mooted TT-based SUV, based on the Allroad concept that was revealed at the Detroit motor show last year.

The introduction of the new SUVs will power Audi's aggressive plans to inflate its product range to 60 models by 2020, and increase SUV uptake to about 35 per cent of all sales.

Mr Stadler also used the conference as an opportunity to reveal that the company had “delivered more in 2014 than promised,” with an overall revenue of €53 billion ($A74 billion) and an operating profit of more than €5 billion ($A7 billion).

Mr Stadler said he was satisfied with the company's performance and that the growth would continue this year.

“After a very positive start to this year, we aim to achieve a new record for unit sales in 2015,” he said.

Last year Audi sold 1.74 million vehicles worldwide and plans to grow the global team by 6000 employees this year in an effort to exceed its record result in 2014.