All-new SQ5 will borrow electric compressor from SQ7
You've seen the A5 and SQ7. Now Audi plans to join the two... somehow. We are talking about a performance SUV with a diesel engine that's the size of the A5. Hopefully, it will also be as distinctive, thanks to the new designer.
The latest piece of insider information suggests Audi engineers have taken a liking to electric superchargers. After installing such an air compressor on the all-new SQ7, it will also use it to give the SQ5 some low-end punch.
Just the fact that an Audi official is willing to talk about the model suggests it is indeed going to be shown this year. As for how many ponies have been hidden under the hood, Audi’s powertrain chief Oliver Hoffman told
Autocar that 390 hp could have been done, but they decided to do a little less for the sake of drivability.
Does it sound like Audi is deliberately keeping it low in power so as not to step on the toes of more expensive cars? Well, consider the fact that the quad-turbo BMW 3-liter engine only makes 400 hp.
Of course, we are more interested to see when the electric supercharger will trickle down to other models. Remember, the same 320 hp 3.0
BiTDI that's in the current SQ5 is also available on the A6, A7 and A8. Speaking of which, the next generations of all three of those cars are rumored to have 48V electric systems as standard.
More than any weight savings, we are hotly anticipating more luxury. The interior of the current Q5 lets it down, especially when compared to the Volvo XC90 (not a direct rival, we know). Besides the digital dash, we could see more advanced suspension systems, semi-autonomous tech, and better fuel economy.
Our best bet is that the 2017 Q5 will debut in Paris this September or around that time. However, the SQ model might take a few months more to develop.
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