The first-ever Audi Q5 and SQ5 Sportback

Following the Q3 Sportback and the e-tron Sportback, Audi now presents its third crossover utility vehicle, or CUV: the first-ever Q5 Sportback. This coupé with dynamic lines addresses customers who appreciate not just an expressive design and technical innovation but also a sporty character and a high level of everyday usability. Topping the model line-up is the SQ5 Sportback TFSI. Its three-litre TFSI offers concentrated power of 260 kW and 500 Nm of torque.

This article was written by Audi on QuickPic.

The Audi Q5 Sportback exudes a powerful presence as is typical for the Q models from Audi. Large air inlets flank the octagonal Singleframe. The headlights with their distinctive daytime running light signature feature LED as standard or Matrix LED technology as optional. The continuous, elegantly sweeping shoulder line emphasizes the wheels and with them the quattro all-wheel drive. The side sill trim on the doors imbues the CUV with stability and robustness. The greenhouse extends low over the body and begins its downward slope early so that the third side window tapers sharply to the rear. The starkly sloped rear window and the seemingly high-mounted rear bumper give the Q5 Sportback a dynamic and powerful appearance.

Innovative: rear lights with digital OLED technology.

Audi offers the rear lights featuring innovative digital OLED technology upon request. Each light includes three organic light-emitting diodes, which radiate an especially homogeneous red light. Each LED is divided into six segments, which can be controlled individually. The Q5 Sportback offers an animated rear light signature that includes a dynamic coming and leaving home lighting scenario that is a typical Audi trademark. An additional sporty graphic is displayed in the rear light cluster when “dynamic” mode is chosen in the Audi drive select system. If another vehicle approaches the stationary Q5 Sportback from the rear to within less than two meters, all OLED segments illuminate, providing proximity detection.

Large selection: colours and materials.

Audi offers the new crossover utility vehicle in the “Advanced” and “S line” exterior trim lines. Differences lie in the Singleframe, the side air inlets and in particular the rear bumper as well as the wheel size and design. There are 11 paint finishes and a variety of trims for the add-on parts to choose from, including the black styling package and both full and contrasting paint finishes. At 4.69 metres, the Q5 Sportback is seven millimetres longer than its sister model, the Q5. It shares the same height (1.66 metres) and width (1.89 metres), but at 0.30 the drag also turns out lower.

The long wheelbase of 2.82 metres provides ample room on board. With its horizontal lines, the interior is clean and airy. The “S line” interior package gives it an even more elegant or sporty appearance. It offers a wide selection of colours and upholstery materials, including the option of sports seats and top-quality fine Nappa leather. The standard contour and ambient lighting package advances the interior look of the vehicle in the typical Audi model interior identity.

Flexible space configuration: rear seat bench plus.

The luggage compartment has a volume of 510 litres, which increases to 1480 litres when loaded to the roof and with the rear seats folded down. Audi also offers the newest member of the family with the optional rear seat bench plus (standard on the SQ5), which can be shifted laterally and has adjustable seat back angles. This expands the volume of the luggage compartment in the base configuration by up to 60 litres – on the other hand, it offers enhanced comfort for the rear-seat passengers when the seat back and seating surface are set all the way back. A power tailgate is standard. In combination with the optional convenience key, it can be opened with a simple foot gesture.

The SUV in the guise of a coupé shines with a number of additional practical qualities. With the 40 TDI (140 kW, 2.0 TDI) engine, it can tow trailers with a total weight of up to 2.4 metric tons (braked, 12 per cent gradient). Roof rails are available as standard and hill descent control ensures safety when driving on steep slopes.

More ground clearance off-road: the adaptive air suspension.

Thanks to its tight setup, the standard sport suspension offers direct contact with the road. Audi also offers an alternative suspension with controlled dampers or the versatile and comfortable adaptive air suspension. It adjusts the ride height over a wide range of 60 mm. The ground clearance can be increased by as much as 45 mm when driving on unpaved roads, while the body is lowered by 15 mm when driving fast. This reduces drag while increasing efficiency at the same time.

The vehicle’s stability also benefits from its low centre of gravity. For convenient loading, the rear body can be lowered 55 mm when the vehicle is stationary.

The optional dynamic steering varies the steering ratio and power assist as a function of the driving speed. A direct ratio and greater power assistance makes the car easy to handle when driving slowly, while at higher speeds the more indirect ratio has a positive effect on straight-line stability. The wheel diameters range from 19 to 20 inches.

The engine range at launch: one TFSI and one TDI engine.

The Audi Q5 Sportback will be launched on the market in South Africa with two engine versions. Their power output ranges from 140 kW to 183 kW.

A 2.0 TDI engine is responsible for propulsion in the Q5 Sportback 40 TDI quattro. It produces 140 kW) and 400 Nm of torque, and accelerates the large CUV from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.1 seconds on its way to a top speed of 220 km/h.

A seven-speed S tronic and the efficient quattro drive with ultra-technology provide the power transmission for the four-cylinder diesel engine. In normal driving conditions, it directs the torque exclusively to the front wheels. The moment all-wheel drive is required, two clutches instantly activate the rear axle, even predictively in many situations.

With the 2.0 TFSI, a four-cylinder gasoline engine, the Audi Q5 Sportback 45 TFSI quattro sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.3 seconds and takes it to a top speed of 237 km/h. The petrol engine produces 183 kW and 370 Nm of torque. Like the two-litre TDI, it uses a seven-speed S tronic transmission and the quattro drive with ultra-technology. A 12 V mild hybrid system (MHEV) increases the efficiency. Its belt-driven starter-alternator can recover energy when decelerating and store it in a compact lithium-ion battery. What’s more, the MHEV system allows coasting with the engine off, while the start-stop range already begins at a speed of 22 km/h.

Digital and intuitive: controls and connectivity.

For the controls, displays and infotainment, the Q5 Sportback takes over from the Q5 with the third-generation modular infotainment system or MIB 3. When fully equipped with the optional Technology Package, the digital Audi virtual cockpit plus (with 12.3-inch display), the MMI navigation plus infotainment system (paired with a 10.1-inch touch display) and Audi connect infotainment services, offer integrated convenience and connectivity to the driving experience.

The myAudi app tightly connects the car with the customer’s smartphone and allows for remote functionality to key safety, convenience and security features. Optional hardware modules such as the Audi phone box or the Bang & Olufsen 3D Premium Sound System supplement the infotainment system.

Helpful and efficient: the driver-assist systems.

The Audi Q5 Sportback is equipped with numerous driver-assist systems. The adaptive cruise control is combined with active lane assist and can take over accelerating, decelerating and keeping in lane for the driver in many situations. The driver only has to touch the capacitive steering wheel to maintain lateral guidance. There are also two systems that make city driving and parking easier for the driver. The City Assistance package is an attractive combination of assistance systems including lane change warning, exit warning, cross-traffic assist at the rear and a rearview camera. An upgrade to this system is also available with the City Assistance plus package which includes the park assist feature and a 360-degree camera to enable quick and comfortable parking.

Sporty top-of-the-range model: the Audi SQ5 Sportback TFSI.

At the forefront of the range is the Audi SQ5 Sportback TFSI. Its cultivated three-litre petrol engine produces an output of 260 kW and 500 Nm of torque. An actuator in the exhaust system lends the sound tone and richness. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h is claimed at 4.9 seconds, with a top speed of 250 km/h (electronically limited). A fast and smooth-shifting eight-speed tiptronic handles the power transmission in the S model, while the quattro permanent all-wheel drive transfers the torque variably as needed to the front and rear axles.

Supreme precision: the suspension.

The suspension of the Audi SQ5 Sportback TFSI is able to handle the performance of the powerful petrol drive with supreme ease. The standard adaptive air suspension combines dynamism and comfort through ideal spring and damper coordination. This system regulates damping and vehicle level automatically depending on the load, while also enhancing driving dynamics and comfort for long journeys.

New highlights: exterior and interior design.

Distinctive details help the Audi SQ5 Sportback TFSI leave an even more powerful impression. Vertical brackets give structure to the large side air inlets on the front bumper. Filigree bars connect large octagonal honeycombs with each other in the octagonal Singleframe grille. Audi LED headlights are installed as standard, Matrix LED headlights with automatic high beam and dynamic turn signals are available as an option. The rear bumper integrates a bracket in matte aluminium, under which the diffuser insert and four chrome-plated oval tailpipe trims can be found. As with the Q5 Sportback, the new digital OLED technology can be chosen for the rear lights.

The interior of the Audi SQ5 Sportback TFSI is designed in black or dark grey colours, the illuminated aluminium door sill trims are decorated with S logos. There is a choice of three upholstery options for the electrically-adjustable sport seats with the embossed S logos. Contrasting stitching adorns the seats and the steering wheel; a massage function and seat ventilation are available on request. Brushed aluminium is standard for the inlays, the alternatives are two carbon designs and a piano finish.

Market launch: pricing and availability.

The Q5 Sportback and the SQ5 Sportback TFSI roll off the assembly line at the San José Chiapa plant in Mexico. They are now available for sale in South Africa. Pricing is as follows (inclusive of all taxes) and comes standard with a five year Audi Freeway Plan:

Audi Q5 Sportback 40 TDI quattro Advanced R960,000

Audi Q5 Sportback 40 TDI quattro S line R1,000,000

Audi Q5 Sportback 45 TFSI quattro S line R1,050,000

Audi SQ5 Sportback TFSI quattro R1,355,000