Photo: Audi
The Q5 is the second SUV that Audi has ever made. Despite not having the experience of Land Rover or BMW, for example, they still managed to deliver a successful product that's very popular in America, Europe and China. Not only that, but it also served as underpinnings for the Porsche Macan.
But, since the Q5 was launched in 2008, a replacement is to be expected in the next couple of years. Until now, this project has largely been a mystery, expected but never detailed. Now a report from Automobile Magazine sheds light on the second-gen model. According to them, the replacement is going to debut in 2016 and will be based on the MLB-evo platform, shedding weight though the use of aluminum and stronger steel. A variety of new powertrains will be used, including an e-tron system and possibly a "tri-turbo" V6 TDI, like the one previewed by the RS5 TDI concept.
The Q5 is currently made in Ingolstadt for most major markets and at the Changchun factory for the Chinese one. However, the new Q5 will reportedly be assembled in Mexico, where labour is cheaper and assembly takes place closer to the US market.
Rival company BMW has recently announced it too will open a factory in Mexico, following a major investment of $1 billion. The X3, which competes with the Q5 for sales is also made in North America, at the Spartanburg factory in South Carolina.
The Q5 e-tron is something we expected from the next-gen SUV all along. This successor to the Q5 Hybrid quattro will use a combination of 2-liter turbo engine with about 250 hp and a 109 hp (80 kW) electric motor that can power the vehicle all by itself. The electric energy will be drained off an externally rechargeable battery, just like on the A3 e-tron.
This is, of course, just one of many upcoming Audis expected to get an e-tron variant. The A6 will soon have one specifically designed to appeal to the Chinese market and the next generation Q7 and A8 are two major Audi products to get electrified models with low CO2 emissions.
Besides being lighter and more efficient, the next Audi Q5 will also be better design and equipped. LED headlights will probably become standard equipment in two years' time and so might the digital speedometer. Audi is also working to offer laser headlight technology on mass-market vehicles and has already fitted them on the limited production R8 LMX super sportscar.
The Q5 is currently made in Ingolstadt for most major markets and at the Changchun factory for the Chinese one. However, the new Q5 will reportedly be assembled in Mexico, where labour is cheaper and assembly takes place closer to the US market.
Rival company BMW has recently announced it too will open a factory in Mexico, following a major investment of $1 billion. The X3, which competes with the Q5 for sales is also made in North America, at the Spartanburg factory in South Carolina.
The Q5 e-tron is something we expected from the next-gen SUV all along. This successor to the Q5 Hybrid quattro will use a combination of 2-liter turbo engine with about 250 hp and a 109 hp (80 kW) electric motor that can power the vehicle all by itself. The electric energy will be drained off an externally rechargeable battery, just like on the A3 e-tron.
This is, of course, just one of many upcoming Audis expected to get an e-tron variant. The A6 will soon have one specifically designed to appeal to the Chinese market and the next generation Q7 and A8 are two major Audi products to get electrified models with low CO2 emissions.
Besides being lighter and more efficient, the next Audi Q5 will also be better design and equipped. LED headlights will probably become standard equipment in two years' time and so might the digital speedometer. Audi is also working to offer laser headlight technology on mass-market vehicles and has already fitted them on the limited production R8 LMX super sportscar.
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