THEY'RE billing it ‘two worlds about to collide', as Audi prepares to slap a high performance RS badge onto an SUV.

The venue is this month's Auto China show in Beijing where the new RS Q3 concept will be the German manufacturer's star turn.

This study in extremity houses a turbocharged five-cylinder engine delivering a whopping 360PS and sits 25mm lower than normal on 20-inch high gloss alloy wheels with low profile tyres.

Classic RS hallmarks like a honeycomb-style grille, deeper air intakes and side sills, a pronounced rear diffuser and large oval exhaust tailpipes distinguish the concept while polymer is used for the front spoiler, sections of the air intakes, door mirror housings and the headlight inserts.

Painted in a mix of blue matt and clearcoat paint the RS Q3's interior is lit up thanks to a glass sunroof and while black is the dominant colour, it is set off by dark blue contrasting Alcantara sections in the leather-upholstered seats.

The lightweight door handles are familiar from other RS models, and badges adorn the instrument cluster, seatbacks, door sill plates and floor mats.

Under the bonnet the 2.5-litre TFSI petrol engine can catapult the concept car from 0-62mph in 5.2 seconds and on to a potential top speed of 165mph.

A seven-speed S tronic twin-clutch transmission transfers power from the five-cylinder unit to the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system.