dump question, but what is a Q-ship?

808Guy · 03-25-2002, 02:55 PM

I hear all the time describing euro cars, but what extactly does q-ship mean?

MarkFank · 03-25-2002, 03:01 PM

In WWII, a Q-ship was a German commerce raider. It was disguised to look like a tramp steamer, totally innocent looking. When the enemy ship came within range, the Q ship dropped its phony superstructure, exposed its guns, and sank the enemy ship! At the start of the war, they were sinking as much or more tonnage than the famous U-boat fleet.

German boat - German car; "Q"- Quattro; innocuous looks (innocent A4) conceal dangerous power (2.7L TT).

hwj · 03-25-2002, 03:02 PM

A "Q ship" was used to refer to any sort of normal-looking non-military ship with concealed weapons and abilities used to surprise an enemy passing by.

In the automotive sense, the term came to be used often with sedans that look like standard people-haulers on the outside, but sport serious power and handling prowess.

sj6sp · 03-25-2002, 03:56 PM

...although they tend to have many examples.
Car magazine call a car as a Q-ship when they appear like your average car but perform a lot better. Especially applies when there is a low performing sibling that the masses are familiar with. Visual cues of their performance are subtle.
a few examples:
VW golf - GTI (VR6 or 1.8T)
A4 - S4, RS4, etc
Ford Taurus - SHO
BMW 3 and 5 series - M counterparts (although all BMW's are portrayed as performance cars)

808Guy · 03-25-2002, 05:35 PM

03-25-2002, 02:55 PM	#1
808Guy Junior Member Account #: 1189 Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 3,266	dump question, but what is a Q-ship? I hear all the time describing euro cars, but what extactly does q-ship mean? __________________

03-25-2002, 03:01 PM	#2
MarkFank AudiWorld Super User Account #: 752 Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 13,315	Definition of a Q ship In WWII, a Q-ship was a German commerce raider. It was disguised to look like a tramp steamer, totally innocent looking. When the enemy ship came within range, the Q ship dropped its phony superstructure, exposed its guns, and sank the enemy ship! At the start of the war, they were sinking as much or more tonnage than the famous U-boat fleet. German boat - German car; "Q"- Quattro; innocuous looks (innocent A4) conceal dangerous power (2.7L TT). __________________ '08 RS4 Avus silver/titanium

03-25-2002, 03:02 PM	#3
hwj Elder Member Account #: 784 Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 17,083	The term is naval in origin. A "Q ship" was used to refer to any sort of normal-looking non-military ship with concealed weapons and abilities used to surprise an enemy passing by. In the automotive sense, the term came to be used often with sedans that look like standard people-haulers on the outside, but sport serious power and handling prowess.

03-25-2002, 03:56 PM	#4
sj6sp Member Account #: 31992 Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 2,908	Doesn't just apply to euro-cars.................. ...although they tend to have many examples. Car magazine call a car as a Q-ship when they appear like your average car but perform a lot better. Especially applies when there is a low performing sibling that the masses are familiar with. Visual cues of their performance are subtle. a few examples: VW golf - GTI (VR6 or 1.8T) A4 - S4, RS4, etc Ford Taurus - SHO BMW 3 and 5 series - M counterparts (although all BMW's are portrayed as performance cars) __________________ <A HREF="http://www.marsavius.net/qclub" target="_blank"> </a>

03-25-2002, 05:35 PM	#5
808Guy Junior Member Account #: 1189 Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 3,266	thanks guys! __________________

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