Audi’s takes the wraps off new Q5

SINGAPORE—Taking the spotlight at the Audi Q5 Hub at the bustling Suntec Plaza in the heart of this island city, the brand with the four rings unveiled its all-new mid-range sport utility vehicle.

 “The first Audi Q5 was for many years the world’s bestselling SUV in its class. It was no easy task to design its successor, but that is precisely why it is so very exciting,” says Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management at AUDI AG. “With the new Q5 we are setting the bar a notch higher. Among the great innovations are the quattro drive system with ultra-technology, highly efficient engines, the air suspension with damper control and a comprehensive line-up of infotainment and assistance systems.”

 The new SUV from Ingolstadt takes a sporty and taut stance on the street. A sculpturally flared Singleframe grille with a solid frame dominates its compellingly designed front end.

 A distinctively curved and strongly undercut shoulder line gives structure to the side view, which also boasts one of the sharpest crease lines in automobiledom. The prominent wheel arches are a reference to the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system. Just as at the front, horizontal lines at the rear convey an image of width and presence. The taillights are also available with optional dynamic turn signals. The tailgate wraps around the C-pillars – a typical feature of the Q models from Audi.

 Compared to the previous model, the new Q5 has grown in nearly all dimensions. Despite the larger size, weight was reduced by up to 90 kg. Steels with maximum tensile strength and aluminum form an intelligent material mix in the body.

 The new Q5 also stands at the top of its class in its aerodynamics. The four cylinder versions attain a cd figure of 0.30 with the aerodynamically optimized roof. Wind noise is exceptionally low, and vibration absorption is high – the new SUV from Audi indulges the driver and passengers with the best interior acoustics in its class.

Spacious and wide interior

The interior offers a lot of space for five persons, and it surpasses the previous model and its competitors in key dimensions. Its horizontally oriented lines underscore the impression of width and comfort, and a three-dimensional trim strip runs across the entire width of the instrument panel.

 A three-spoke multifunction steering wheel with shift paddles is standard. When it is dark, the ambient lighting creates an attractive atmosphere in 30 different colors. Typical of Audi, the workmanship in the Q5 is uncompromising.

 The rear seatback of the new Q5 is split into three segments. Depending on the rear seat position, the basic volume of the luggage compartment ranges from 550 to 610 liters, 10 liters more than in the previous model. When the rear bench is folded down, this volume grows to 1,550 liters. Cargo loading is simplified by intelligent solutions like a standard, variably folding mat, sensor control of the power tailgate and manual lowering of the body via the optional air suspension.

 Simply coherent controls and displays

Operation of the new Audi SUV is intuitive and is marked by three great new features. The Audi virtual cockpit presents brilliant graphics on its high-resolution 12.3-inch screen. The driver can choose from two views – a classic view with large round instruments and a mode in which the navigation map or lists dominate. The optional head-up display projects key information onto the windshield.

 The MMI terminal in the center console acts as the main control element. The MMI navigation plus with MMI touch and an 8.3-inch display, a large MMI all-in-one MMI touchpad with haptic feedback, is integrated into the rotary pushbutton. It recognizes handwritten entries as well as gestures familiar from mobile devices such as zooming gestures.

 The MMI operating logic is based on today’s smartphones, and it offers such features as intelligent free-text search. The new natural-language voice control function also recognizes inputs from everyday speech. Serving as an additional third operating level in the new Audi Q5 is the multifunction steering wheel.

 Audi navigation:

“Personal route assist”

The new Audi Q5, like the Q7 and the A4, has a self-learning “personal route assist” function. After activating this function, the navigation system learns the routes and destinations that the customer regularly selects, and it associates this information to the parked position and time of day.

 For as long as it is active, the system learns from the customer’s behavior and uses this information to suggest optimized route planning for the next trip – even while navigation is inactive. The navigation system incorporates the three most likely destinations into the calculation, taking into consideration both the arrival time and current traffic levels. The system can suggest that the customer activate navigation to find out about potential alternative routes.

 Versatile and efficient drivetrain and chassis

The new quattro drivetrain with ultra technology is standard equipment for the 2.0 TFSI with 252hp (the only drivetrain to be made available in Singapore, although the diesel TDI’s will probably make its way to the Philippines). The quattro with ultra technology always disengages the rear-axle drive whenever it is not needed, and if necessary it can proactively re-engage it. Wheel-selective torque control gives handling a refined touch, delivering a dynamic, precise and controllable driving experience.

 The new Audi Q5 enables handling that combines very different strengths – it is sporty while being extremely comfortable. Creating the basis for this are the newly developed five-link suspensions and also the new electromechanical power steering system. Dynamic steering is available as an option; it varies its gear ratio according to the driving speed and steering angle.

 Customers can choose from two extension stages of springs and damping. The chassis with damper control offers a very wide spread between comfort and dynamics, which the driver can select via Audi drive select. In addition to adjusting damper control, the new optional adaptive air suspension can be used to vary the ride height of the car body over five stages.

The new Audi SUV comes from the factory with 19-inch alloy wheels as standard. Wheels up to 21 inches in diameter are options.

Slotting in above the smaller Q2 and Q3 and the bigger flagship Q7, the Q5 promises to be easily among the top three bestselling models in the entire Audi range. We can’t wait to take one out for a test drive.