Monday 18th January 2016

Audi secures Q2 and Q4 badges from Alfa Romeo

The Audi SUV stampede can continue as FCA negotiations finally conclude

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Only last week we brought you news of the Audi H Tron concept from Detroit, a hydrogen crossover that most probably previewed a BMW X4 rival or something similar. Following Audi naming logic, that car would be a Q4. Except it couldn't be, because Fiat Chrysler Automobiles had ownership of the Q2 and Q4 badges.

But not any longer, it would seem. One of the stories emerging from Detroit after the press days is the news that Audi's ongoing negotiations with FCA have concluded and the former now has the Q2 and Q4 trademarks. Specifics of the deal have not been discussed, but Audi CEO Rupert Stadler has said that no money has been exchanged. It has been suggested that Audi may have swapped trademarks with FCA. Answers on a postcard for that one please, as it seems a little strange...

As a reminder, the Q4 badge was used on the all-wheel drive versions of the Alfa Romeo 159 and, more recently, the Maserati Ghibli. The Q2 tag was used for those front-wheel drive Alfas with the limited-slip diff but is still also standard on the 4C, described as a "differential control system."

As for the Audis, they will slot into the ever swelling SUV range as it moves towards a full lockout of Q1 to Q9 and presumably world domination soon after. So rapid is the turnaround these days that a Q2 could well appear at Geneva ahead of a launch this year.

[Sources: Autoblog, Carscoops, CAR]

[Ekona]

Alfa secures from Alfa?


And now the headline will be changed within seconds of me posting this, so this post won't make any sense at all!

[C.A.R.]

Ekona said:

Alfa secures from Alfa?


And now the headline will be changed within seconds of me posting this, so this post won't make any sense at all!

It's OK, I can vouch for you!

Niche upon-niche, will it ever end?!

[Cheapskate]

The story is less intriguing than the (mis)-title, unless Alfa traded for the Quattro trademark. In which case it's equal. But I suspect they've got something less valuable and more useless to an Italian company. "Vorsprung Durch Technik", perhaps...

[K666ADM]

Im guessing it was something like...

Audi - If you dont give us the Q2 and Q4 rights we will set the emissions police onto you, we did it to Renault and we can do it to you too.

[MDMA .]

Ekona said:

Alfa secures from Alfa?


And now the headline will be changed within seconds of me posting this, so this post won't make any sense at all!

Was thinking that. thought Alfa was a new company separate from Alfa Romeo.

[saxy]

K666ADM said:

Im guessing it was something like...

Audi - If you dont give us the Q2 and Q4 rights we will set the emissions police onto you, we did it to Renault and we can do it to you too.

Actually, Audi don't really have that right given their own recent reputations *rolleyes*

[Denorth]

still 'Alfa to Alfa'

who knows... they might've traded in something from Lamborghini portfolio, if Alfa (the second one from the title ) was looking for something authentic Italian.

Edited by Denorth on Monday 18th January 11:15

[vinnie01]

saxy said:

Actually, Audi don't really have that right given their own recent reputations *rolleyes*

Doubt it would stop them... I'm going down anyway lets see who I can take with me

[LotusOmega375D]

It's a shame that the German executive car manufacturers are all too lazy to think up actual names for their cars.

They could have used Tiger, Panther, Leopard etc. for these SUVs.

[Nik Attard]

Ekona said:

Alfa secures from Alfa?


And now the headline will be changed within seconds of me posting this, so this post won't make any sense at all!

Hi Ekona,

Been a long weekend, think you will understand

Nik

[llcoolmac]

LotusOmega375D said:

It's a shame that the German executive car manufacturers are all too lazy to think up actual names for their cars.

They could have used Tiger, Panther, Leopard etc. for these SUVs.

Hmmmmm.....that cant be a coincidence that you have named most of the 1970s and 1980s range of SAME tractor models. Italian tractor manufacturer SAME that is.

We had a Same Tiger, great tractor. Its stablemates in the range included the Buffalo, Hercules, Titan. All fantastic names.

Edited by llcoolmac on Monday 18th January 11:23

[Oakman]

llcoolmac said:

LotusOmega375D said:

It's a shame that the German executive car manufacturers are all too lazy to think up actual names for their cars.

They could have used Tiger, Panther, Leopard etc. for these SUVs.

Hmmmmm.....that cant be a coincidence that you have named most of the 1970s and 1980s range of SAME tractor models. Italian tractor manufacturer SAME that is.

We had a Same Tiger, great tractor. Its stablemates in the range included the Buffalo, Hercules, Titan. All fantastic names.

Edited by llcoolmac on Monday 18th January 11:23

Full marks for your very sharp observation connected to the SAME Tractors LLC

I think LotusOmega was being a touch more Teutonic in his attributions - namely the German Panzer Tanks of WW2 origin.......a great simile for the ever burgeoning 'SUV', Soft Roader, Chelsea Tractor machine.

PS. We had snow in the Peak District yesterday, unfortunately it was telling to see a BMW X5 seriously in the ditch on a straight moor top road, two tiny vintage David Brown tractors had been out to play not far away, popping doughnuts and having great fun they were !

[davebem]

Hopefully Alfa swapped the Q2/Q4 names for a more robust wishbone suspension bush design.

[RoverP6B]

Any guesses as to what Alfa may have gained from this?

[Itsallicanafford]

RoverP6B said:

Any guesses as to what Alfa may have gained from this?

some mucky pictures of Audi exec's wives?

[ecs0set]

davebem said:

Hopefully Alfa swapped the Q2/Q4 names for a more robust wishbone suspension bush design.

Do Audi own Boursin?

[smilo996]

Presumably they as the potential owners will need to talk nicely to Q8.

[8bit]

LotusOmega375D said:

It's a shame that the German executive car manufacturers are all too lazy to think up actual names for their cars.

They could have used Tiger, Panther, Leopard etc. for these SUVs.

Could be lining myself up for a Whoosh Parrot, but were those not also names of WW2-era Nazi German tanks? Maybe a bad move on the marketing front there?

[dc2rr07]

davebem said:

Hopefully Alfa swapped the Q2/Q4 names for a more robust wishbone suspension bush design.

Although they were not Alfa model names but just part of them ! Audi will be using them as the model name so not sure what incentive they gave.

[Marc H]

Well Audi are VW so already in that pickle... But, this reminds me.... When Macca named the P1, did they buy the name off Subaru/Prospeed as in the Impreza P1? Which a mate of mine had - and kind of wishes he had kept it.