GENERATION three of Audi’s Q5 and SQ5 medium SUVs in petrol and diesel kind with delicate hybrid help have been unveiled in Europe, the newest choices described by Ingolstadt as “a confirmed idea with a dynamic design, excessive variability, new infotainment and trendy working idea.”
Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) are due at a later date.
Given Australian arrival shouldn’t be till subsequent yr, pricing and specs should not but accessible however Audi says the entry degree mannequin will promote in Germany for €54,650 ($A89,111). The present mannequin lists Down Below from $73,400 excluding on-road prices.
The Q5 is up towards a raft of ICE-powered, electrically-assisted, medium-size premium SUVs together with BMW’s incoming new-generation X3, the Genesis GV70, Land Rover’s Discovery Sport and Vary Rover Evoque, the Lexus NX and Mercedes-Benz GLC fashions.
It’s Audi’s first SUV to be constructed on the corporate’s Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) structure with, because the identify suggests, environment friendly, partially electrified combustion engines.
The platform is designed to allow Audi to launch high-volume fashions with excessive technical requirements in numerous segments, serving to the model give future fashions a singular character.
Following Audi’s current introduction of the A4-replacing A5 passenger automobile, the Q5 shares many parts throughout powertrains, inside structure, know-how and design (from herein Audi’s even-numbered fashions can be all-electric whereas odd-numbered automobiles are inside combustion and hybrid).
On the unveiling, Audi CEO Gernot Döllner, mentioned: “Because the second mannequin of our new era of extremely environment friendly combustion engines, this new version of the profitable mannequin marks the subsequent necessary step within the rejuvenation of our portfolio.”
The Q5 has been round for greater than 15 years, throughout which it has turn out to be some of the common SUVs within the German and European medium SUV segments – in addition to often outselling the BMW X3 and Mercedes GLC in Australia – this newest iteration is anticipated to proceed the nameplate’s recognition.
New for era three is an up to date infotainment system and operation idea, customisable digital mild signatures and trendy driver help methods.
Audi says forthcoming growth of the mannequin household will characteristic plug-in hybrid know-how.
“The sporty Q5 units new requirements within the midsize-segment of premium SUVs: sporty, technology-oriented design language meets excessive variability and confirmed suitability for on a regular basis use.”
It makes use of Volkswagen Group’s ‘E 1.2’ electronics structure, designed to combine trendy and future-proof connectivity and digitalisation options into all new fashions.
The Q5 rolls out of Audi’s San José Chiapa, Mexico plant which has been working for eight years to facilitate the corporate’s penetration into the North American market.
From a sensible perspective, the brand new Q5 is extra spacious inside and encompasses a totally adjustable three-passenger rear seat that may be moved lengthways and tilted, thus rising baggage quantity or consolation for rear passengers as required.
Externally, the brand new Q5 has an apparent sporty flavour to its stance, flanks and proportions… a excessive shoulder line creates a strong silhouette and connects the entrance and back lights making the car seem longer. Above the sill, a rising line runs over the wheel arches and into the rear bumper, giving the car a dynamic look even when stationary.
The entrance is assertive as all of the defining design parts are positioned one degree increased than within the predecessor mannequin. The sporty, huge Singleframe sits excessive and is flanked by vertical, useful air curtains.
The positioning and form of the useful tailpipes is dependent upon the engine: a double sq. tailpipe below the diffuser on the left-hand aspect (for all diesel engines), or rectangular tailpipes on the appropriate and left (for all petrol engines). The S mannequin options the 4 twin spherical tailpipes in a brand new, sharpened design.
Variants will comprise fundamental, superior exterior and S line exterior with the S mannequin given an unbiased and extra aggressive exterior look.
German spec Q5s are geared up with alloy wheels in sizes from 17 to 21 inches, relying on the outside and engine.
The inside is designed to be “human-centric” and geared in the direction of the wants of its customers, exemplified in a structure that gives “visible readability”.
Audi says performance and aesthetics are mixed right down to the final element, the management panel in high-quality materials forming the idea for the “Digital Stage” with a curved design and OLED know-how housing the 11.9-inch digital cockpit and the 14.5-inch MMI contact show. A ten.9-inch MMI Passenger Show is elective for entrance passengers.
The PPC structure specifies longitudinally put in combustion engines all of which at launch are geared up with a brand new new 48-volt ‘MHEV plus’ system which helps the combustion engine, reduces CO2 emissions and is claimed to extend efficiency and driving consolation.
Restricted purely electrical manoeuvring and parking is feasible. The powertrain generator (PTG) generates an extra drive torque of as much as 230Nm and 18kW of energy.
Its 48-volt system additionally allows using an electrically pushed air-con compressor providing the benefit of cabin cooling even with the engine is switched off.
The MHEV plus battery with lithium iron phosphate chemistry (LFP) has a storage capability of 1.7kWh. The primary duties of the belt starter generator are to begin the engine and provide electrical vitality to the battery.
Regenerative vitality is harvested when decelerating and braking feeding as much as 25kW of vitality again into the battery.
PHEV variations of the Q5 will arrive later within the mannequin lifecycle with a big battery and exterior charging possibility.
At European launch, three engine variations (all MHEV geared up) can be found with additional drive variants to observe.
All fashions use the seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission with the entry-level engine a 2.0 TFSI delivering 150kW and 340Nm geared up with front-wheel drive, quattro elective.
Additionally accessible is a 2.0 TDI delivering 150kW and 400Nm solely accessible with all-wheel drive.
Topping out the Q5 advance guard is the SQ5 with a 3.0-litre V6 TFSI producing 270kW and 550Nm.
Agile dealing with and luxury is aided by optimised suspension and steering set-up, whereas latest-generation driver help methods are fitted to “considerably enhance on a regular basis life and highway security for all highway customers”.
Mr Döllner mentioned he sees the brand new Audi Q5 as a assure of success.
“The Audi Q5 has been our most profitable and most necessary SUV mannequin within the midsize class for greater than 15 years. The brand new version is an additional improvement of its confirmed traits,” he mentioned.
“Because the second mannequin in our new era of extremely environment friendly combustion engines, it marks the subsequent necessary step within the rejuvenation of our portfolio. I’m sure that the brand new Audi Q5, as a sporty all-rounder with a dynamic SUV design, will proceed its success story.”
