Audi will finally be able to add a Q2 and Q4 to its crossover lineup, thanks to a trademark swap with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.
The Q4 term had been reserved by FCA’s Maserati division as a reference to the all-wheel-drive system for the Ghibli and Quattroporte, while Q2 had been used to brand for limited-slip differentials.
“We tried to get it years ago and they said ‘No, never,’ but there is never ‘never’ in business,” Audi chief Rupert Stadler said at the Detroit auto show, according to Autoblog. “This year I went back to them with a proposal and we talked and there were some negotiations and then we agreed to it.”
Rather than buying rights to the Q2 and Q4 names, the executive suggests both automakers “found something we needed.” The comments are interpreted as confirmation of a trademark swap deal, though details of terms desired by FCA remain unclear.
The small Q2 is expected to be the next new member of Audi’s crossover family, potentially making a global debut in two months at the Geneva Motor Show. The Q4 is said to be slated for a few years down the line, arriving after the redesigned Q3.
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