Autoblog

Click above to view high-res gallery of the Audi Q5 with new images

Audi released the other half of its Q5 glamour shots over the weekend. We've updated the gallery with all of the images we could get our hands on (you can switch to a "high-res" view with the button on the upper right corner - perfect for saving desktops). Audi also tossed in several shots from the Q5's world introduction at the Beijing Auto Show. We always get a kick out of the designers, engineers, and executives standing around like beaming new parents. From our perspective, the Q5 looks like a typical Audi, the designs of which are beginning to lose their visual punch after having been spread across so many models.

[Source: Audi]

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Audi Q5

For months now we've seen spy photos and heard speculation about Audi's new Q5 CUV. Now, we finally have the official news on the latest entry from Ingolstadt. Unlike its big brother the Q7, the Q5 doesn't share an architecture with a VW model. The Q5 utilizes the same underpinnings as the A5 coupe and A4 sedan/wagon. That means the Q5 has a longitudinally mounted engine rather than the transverse powerplant found in the smaller VW Tiguan.

While we were in Germany to drive the new A4, Audi invited us into their design center in Ingolstadt to check out their new virtual reality design system and have a look at the Q5 in the metal, prior to its official coming out party in Beijing. Compared to the Q7, the Q5 looks substantially more compact than its hefty sibling and is much tidier design overall, keeping with Audi's current pretensions of being a premium sporting brand. In fact the Q5 falls right in the heart of the premium mid-size CUV segment. Learn more about the Q5 design after the jump


[Source: Audi]

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Audi Cross Coupe Quattro.

We're less than 12 hours away from seeing the Audi Q5 officially revealed at the Auto China Show in Beijing, and according to Süddeutsche Zeitung, Audi's new cute 'ute will be assembled in Changchun, in northern China. The German rag cited unspecified China-based sources for the information, but Audi isn't answering any questions ahead of the reveal tomorrow. The Q5 is due to hit dealers in Europe later this summer and sales are expected to begin in the States towards the beginning of next year. It's likely we'll hear about Audi's production plans for the Q5 during tomorrow's press conference and you can watch the reveal live on Audi's online media site.



[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]

Our sources indicate this rendering from OmniAuto.it is very close to what Audi's upcoming Q5 will look like. Although this looks like a photograph on an Italian web site, it is really a rendering that looks nearly identical to the Q5 spy shots we showed you in February. When it debuts later this month at the Beijing Motor Show, expect the engine to be a longitudinal (north-south) mount, to allow a variety of powerplants including V8 and TDI derivatives. Thanks for the tip, Andrea!

[Source: OmniAuto]

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Audi Quattro Coupe Concept.

The Audi Q5 will reportedly make its official debut at the Bejing Motor Show next month and with Porsche's increased stake in the Volkswagen group – going from 31-percent to more than 50-percent – that means that VAG and Porsche might begin to finally play nice again with platform sharing.

Initially, the new Q5 was supposed to underpin Porsche's own mini 'ute, but rumors suggested that Audi's board nixed the idea for fear that a Porsche model sharing the same platform could steal sales from the new CUV. That's about to change as Porsche gets a few seats on VAG's board, and according to Autoweek, development of the vehicle-formerly-known as the Roxster is back in full swing.

While there's no new information about the Porsche, Audi's Q5 will be revealed packing the new seven-speed dual-clutch S-tronic gearbox mated to a longitudinal engine. The real benefit of the new DL500 transmission is that it can handle torque output up to 405 lb.-ft. and engine revs of 8,500 rpm. The new tranny will disseminate throughout the rest of the Audi lineup in coming years, first in Quattro models, including the new A4, and then on down to the automaker's front-wheel-drive models.



[Source: Autoweek]

Click above for scans of the Audi Q5.

The folks at Autobild are up to their usual shenanigans, publishing what looks to be the new Audi Q5 in all its glory. As is always the case with some of the German auto rags, we're unsure if these are official images from Audi or clever photoshops, but the proportions and details look spot-on.

The front end seems to be a nice amalgamation of the Audi A4 and the Q7 fascias, while everything aft of the A-pillar looks like the Q5's big brother at two-thirds scale. The rear light arrangement is something that seems to be carried over from Audi's show vehicles, including the Cross Cabriolet Concept.

We'll have all the details about the Audi Q5 when it's officially unveiled next month in Geneva. Thanks for the tip Tom!

[Source: Autobild via Autoblog Spanish]

The Audi Q5 is coming to the city by the sea in November. The big, upscale brother to the VW Tiguan sits on the Modular Long Platform from the A5, and enters the MMA ring with the BMW X3 and Mercedes GLK. It is expected to get a wide variety of engines, from the marque's FSI fours, to diesels and perhaps even the 4.2-liter V8. It might also get a 6-speed manual, but no third row seating.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Audi is going to put off the launch of three new SUVs into its arsenal until the end of the decade, primarily for marketing reasons. Really, it's only one new model – the compact Q5 – plus diesel and hybrid versions of its Q7 crossover.

The reason for the delay is primarily to avoid Audi's newest entrants from getting lost in the ether of year-end sales drives, and thus allowing all three vehicles to be marketed as 2010 models, which were originally destined for sale in the third quarter of 2008.

Although we haven't seen the Q5, meant to compete with BMW's X3 and Mercedes' upcoming GLK, it's been well known that the new cute 'ute has been under development for some time, finding a home atop the VW Tiguan platform. The diesel Q7 will be arriving around the same time, and will come to market packing a three-liter turbo-diesel V6, producing 230 HP and 400 lb.-ft. of torque. Since the new engine will be 50-state compliant, it's "just a matter of formality," according to Audi's U.S. head Johan de Nysschen, that the oilburner will find its way into the A4, A6 and A8 models of the future.

All three vehicles, including the 280 HP V6 hybrid-equipped Q7, are all likely to be revealed in Detroit in 2009.

[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]

Audi has said that it wants to double the number of vehicles it offers by 2015. With 22 vehicles currently in the mix, adding coupes, convertibles, avants and sportbacks will help significantly expand the range in addition to new models like the Q5 SUV, A7 coupe-like-sedan, and A1 compact.

Yes, you did hear the term "sportbacks" earlier. Rupert Stadler, Audi's CEO, admitted his company is developing a Sportback version of the upcoming A5, along with coupe and convertible models. AutoBild is reporting that Audi will start showing these A5 variants next year. We should be seeing an A5 Convertible in November 2008, and the A5 Sportback in April of '09. After that we'll be getting the Q5, R5 and finally the RS5. Hopefully all of them will make it to the States, though likely some won't make the trek. Click through the Read link for more renderings of these A5 variants from AutoBild.

[Source: Autobild via egmcartech.com]

Volvo's new rival for the BMW X3 is apparently getting close to production. The new Volvo XC50 should reach dealers around the same time as another new Euro rival, the Audi Q5. Looks like there are going to be a lot of good competitors in the premium mini-ute segment. The XC50 will most likely be built on the C1 chassis underpinning the Euro Focus, Mazda3, Volvo S40 and V50. Engines should be similar to the V50's, minus the smaller ones. We're probably going to see gas engines ranging from 145 to 220hp, and perhaps the new diesel D5 unit putting out 180hp.

The Volvo XC50 will look like a mini-me version of the larger XC90. Not a copy, but similar. Infomotori sources are saying that the platform is the same as the V50, with a strong family resemblance to the new Volvo C30. It is also expected to share much with the next-generation Land Rover Freelander/LR3, including its trick AWD system.

Although only labeled a concept at this point, the car should be unveiled at the NAIAS in Detroit in January and go on sale as early as Spring 2008. Expected to be approximately the same size as the Toyota RAV4, it will compete a bit further upscale with the likes of the Lexus RX, BMW X3 and new Acura RDX.

[Source: InfoMotori]

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• Spy Shots: Volvo readies XC60 mini-ute for NAIAS in January
• Volvo XC50 in the pipeline
• Land Rover Freelander becomes baby LR3