2017 Audi Q5 Showcased At Paris Motor Show

Leaving its subsidiary Lamborghini back home to concentrate on its marketing strategies, the German manufacturer Aud has made it to the 2016 Paris Motor Show. It finally pulled the wraps off the highly anticipated Q5 which will go on sale in Europe in January 2017. The first-gen Q5 was the best-selling luxury SUV in its class with over 16 lakh units sold. The new Q5 has a lot to live up to and Audi has left no stone unturned to design it.

Carved on the company’s new design language, the new Q5 is more upmarket and refined compared to its predecessor, and that does a good job of giving competition to newer models such as the Mercedes-Benz GLC and the new BMW X3, which is also due for launch in 2017. Not to miss Audi’s signature Matrix LED headlamps with daytime running lights which will be offered as an option.

Just like the new A4 that was recently launched by the car firm, the second-gen Q5 is based on VW’s MLB platform. This means the new version is nearly 90kg lighter than the model it replaces. Weight shedding will play its part in improving the handling, overall ride comfort and fuel-efficiency.

When launched, the new-gen Q5 will be offered as a 4WD SUV with the latest version of the quattro drivetrain that disconnects power delivery to the rear-wheels over non-challenging terrains to save fuel. It is the same system that also does duty in the A4 Allroad.

Inside the cabin, the second-gen Q5 gets an overhaul on the quality of plastic and leather used to carve out the trims. Audi will offer a wide range of colour combinations for personalising the cabin ambience and courtesy a longer wheelbase, there will now be improved knee and legroom for rear occupants. The SUV will receive company’s Virtual Cockpit dashboard and a rear seat tablet-based entertainment system.

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Under the hood, the Europe-spec Q5 will get three engine options -- a 2.0-litre TDI, a 3.0-litre TDI and a 2.0-litre TFSI engine. While the petrol-powered 2.0-litre TFSI engine is tuned to pump out 252PS of power and the 3.0-litre TDI motor is tuned to produce 286PS of power, the 2.0-litre TDI will be offered with three different states of tune to produce 150PS, 163PS and 190PS. Both the 2.0-litre engines will come mated either to a six-speed manual or a seven-speed S tronic gearbox. The 3.0-litre engine will be coupled with an eight-speed Tiptronic transmission.

However, the 3.0-litre model won’t be the top spec avatar. While Audi will offer a SQ5 variant which will be powered by a six-cylinder diesel mill, tuned to produce 344PS of power, there will be a RS Q5 version with more than 450PS of power from a twin-turbo petrol unit. Eventually, to stay in touch with the times, Audi will add a much more environment-friendly hybrid in the Q5 catalogue.