Audi CEO Rupert Stadler acknowleged earlier this year that Audi was considering a BMW X6 rival. Now design boss, Walter de' Silva, in an interview with Automotive News Europe at the Bologna motor show, has gone a step further and confirmed that Audi has signed off on the project.
Potentially known as Q6, the SUV-coupe crossover will slot between Audi's Q7 and Q5 models.
BMW has proven the pioneering X6 design with its sloping roof line has been a success, and Audi as well as Mercedes-Benz with their GLC wants in on the action. First launched in 2008, the BMW X6 was already ranked 5th top-selling premium large SUV in Europe while the BMW X5 held the top spot.
Audi has set its goal to surpass BMW as the top-selling premium brand by 2015.
Meanwhile, a top Volkswagen executive told Automotive News Europe Audi was also considering another smaller SUV, possibly called Q4, to compete with the BMW X4. Confirmed by BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer, the X4 could hit the market in 2014.
