“Kiwis have shown a great fondness for Audi SUVs, with our range from Q2 right through to Q7 and e-tron continuing to have great success,” said Dean Sheed, General Manager, Audi New Zealand. “However, the coupé appearance of our Sportback range has especially resonated in the local market – with 40 per cent of Q3 sales, and over one quarter of e-tron sales attributed to the sportier designs.
“The Q5 Sportback and SQ5 Sportback combine sleek coupé looks with qualities that have made the Audi Q5 New Zealand’s favourite premium midsize SUV of the last decade.”
The highlight of the new Sportback models is the distinctive styling, which exudes a dynamic and sporting presence, while maintaining the powerful appearance typical of Audi’s ‘Q’ range. The continuous, elegantly sweeping shoulder line emphasises the wheels and the quattro all-wheel drive system. 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.
Large air inlets flank the octagonal Singleframe grille, the headlights with their distinctive daytime running light signature feature LED or optional Matrix LED technology, while digital OLED lighting technology is available in the rear lights.
The new bodystyle will arrive in two guises – a Q5 Sportback 45 TFSI S Line and the range-topping SQ5 Sportback TDI.
The Audi Q5 Sportback 45 TFSI S Line quattro features a two-litre TFSI, four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 183kW of power and 370Nm of torque, and sprints from zero to 100 km/h in 6.1 seconds. The drivetrain also incorporates a 12V mild hybrid system and a seven-speed S tronic transmission. Average fuel consumption sits at 7.6l/100km*.
The Audi SQ5 Sportback TDI leads the range, with an improved three-litre turbo-diesel engine that produces 251kW of power, and an impressive maximum torque figure of 700 Nm constantly available from 1,750 rpm to 3,250 rpm – resulting in a zero to 100 km/h time of just 5.1 seconds. The SQ5 Sportback TDI also features a smooth-shifting eight-speed tiptronic transmission and a 48V mild hybrid system (capable of recovering up to 8kW of power under deceleration). Average fuel consumption for the sports variant is just 7.1l/100km*.
Both variants feature Audi’s quattro permanent all-wheel drive system, while a sport differential is available as an option on the performance variant, which actively distributes torque between the rear wheels to the outside wheel which has the better grip to further improve agility.
Adaptive air suspension comes as standard on the SQ5 Sportback – and is available as an option on the Q5 Sportback. This feature adapts the body’s ride height over a range of 60mm to specific driving situations on or off-road.
The Q5 and SQ5 Sportback models utilise the third-generation MIB 3 infotainment system paired with the updated 10.1-inch touchscreen display. Audi’s virtual cockpit is also available as standard on the two models, and includes a 12.3-inch display in the dashboard and head-up display.
Due to arrive in the third quarter of 2021, the Q5 Sportback 45 TFSI S Line will have an MRP of $110,400, while the SQ5 Sportback TDI will land with an MRP of $138,400**.
– End –
* As per global WLTP standard. Acceleration, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions figures depend on the individual vehicle specifications.
**Maximum Retail Price (MRP) excludes on road costs and any optional extras.
The Audi Group, with its brands Audi, Ducati and Lamborghini, is one of the most successful manufacturers of automobiles and motorcycles in the premium segment. It is present in more than 100 markets worldwide and produces at 16 locations in twelve countries. 100 percent subsidiaries of AUDI AG include Audi Sport GmbH (Neckarsulm), Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. (Sant’Agata Bolognese, Italy) and Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. (Bologna, Italy).
In 2017, the Audi Group delivered to customers about 1.878 million automobiles of the Audi brand, 3,815 sports cars of the Lamborghini brand and 55,900 motorcycles of the Ducati brand. In the 2017 fiscal year, AUDI AG achieved total revenue of €60.1 billion and an operating profit of €5.1 billion. At present, approximately 90,000 people work for the company all over the world, more than 60,000 of them in Germany. Audi focuses on sustainable products and technologies for the future of mobility.