Latest SQ5 with 354PS V6 TFSI joins UK Audi range following its recent world debut.

Latest SQ5 with 354PS V6 TFSI joins UK Audi range following its recent world debut at the NAIAS in Detroit

• All-new SQ5 TFSI now available to order priced from £51,200 OTR – first UK deliveries expected in June
• Newly adopted 3.0 TFSI petrol engine with 354PS and 500Nm (368.8 lb-ft), 0 to 62mph in 5.4 seconds
• S-specific styling enhancements and a high level of standard equipment, including 'S' suspension with electronic damper control
• MMI Navigation Plus, Audi connect, electric seats, Fine Nappa leather, 20-inch alloy wheels and Audi drive select as standard
• Matrix LED lights, virtual cockpit, head-up display and predictive efficiency assistant among the key options

Part high-achieving performance car,  part resilient and family-ready SUV – the Audi SQ5 is already a firm UK favourite on the strength of its impressively well-rounded skillset, and from this week its all-new successor retakes its rightful place at the head of the Q5 range offering an even more concentrated dose of that successful formula. 

Based around a new and highly sophisticated powertrain incorporating TFSI petrol power for the first time, and enhanced by the many design and technology advances from which the entire Q5 range has benefited, the SQ5 returns with an OTR price of £51,200, and is expected with its first UK customers in June.

Charged with propelling 35kg less weight thanks in part to sophisticated new body architecture, the more powerful 354PS TFSI promises 5.4-second 0-62mph pace in the quattro all-wheel-driven figurehead without ruling out real world fuel efficiency.

The new 3.0-litre TFSI is the successor to the unit first used by the S4 and S5 performance flagships, and replaces its supercharger with a new twin-scroll turbocharger located within the 90-degree V of the cylinder banks that delivers even keener and stronger response. This is evident not only in the healthy 354PS power peak but also in the 500Nm of torque which remains available from 1,370rpm right through to 4,500rpm.  

Thanks to super-efficient new Audi-developed combustion technology based on the so-called ‘B cycle’ process the advanced new six-cylinder is also able to deliver up to 34mpg according to the NEDC test, equating to CO₂output of 189 grams per km with the standard 20-inch ‘5 twin-spoke star’ alloy wheels on board. The engine’s 14kg weight advantage over its predecessor also works in favour of overall efficiency.

An eight-speed tiptronic transmission complements the powerful yet impressively linear delivery of the V6 with inherently smooth yet fittingly sporting shifts. The lower gears feature short ratios, while the upper gears are long in the interest of fuel conservation. 

If required the transmission can freewheel as soon as the driver lifts off the accelerator at speeds of between 34mph and 99mph for even greater fuel efficiency.

Being both a Q5 and a member of the Audi ‘S’ series, the SQ5 is naturally quattro all-wheel-drive-equipped. 

During normal driving, the system distributes power with a slight rear-axle bias, but when necessary it can divert the majority to whichever axle has better traction. It is backed up by wheel-selective torque control, which slightly brakes the inside wheels during faster cornering to tuck the SQ5 into the bend, and then helps to prolong handling neutrality and precision once the car is committed.

For even greater adjustability and agility a sport differential is also available on the options list. It actively distributes torque between the rear wheels via two superposition stages, helping to literally push the car into bends and to contain understeer. Its management is integrated into the Audi drive select control system.

Also controllable via Audi drive select is the electronically regulated ‘S’ suspension, using an adaptive CDC damping (continuous damping control) setup. 

This system allows the driver to adapt damper response to suit the driving situation, offering a more compliant setting for everyday cruising and a tauter and more dynamic mode for faster, more challenging driving.

Body and exterior design

Even when stationary, an array of details underlines the dynamic characteristics of the new Audi SQ5. The bumpers up front and in the rear are complemented by more strongly contoured, S-specific air inlets and a diffuser with a honeycomb grille. 

Another S-specific feature is the radiator grille with double aluminium slats and contrasting trim elements in matt twilight grey. The S logo with red rhombus is used in numerous locations to set additional accents.

LED technology is standard for all lighting functions, including the Audi Beam which projects the four rings logo onto the floor using LEDs when the doors are opened. Illuminated door sills also bear exclusive S logos. High beam assist is also factory fitted. The dynamic indicators ensure a high recognition factor.

Matrix LED headlights are optionally available, featuring a special Q signature and adding dynamic indicators at the front.  In profile, aluminium-look exterior mirrors and door trim strips finished in the body colour underscore the model’s exclusivity. The rear bumper houses the S-specific twin exhaust tailpipes of the dual-branch exhaust system and an aluminium diffuser clasp.

Interior

Contrasting stitching on the leather steering wheel and sport seats create a dynamic and elegant ambiance. The S sport seats are upholstered in fine Nappa leather with diamond stitching and are electrically adjustable. Matt brushed aluminium inlays are standard and an exclusive carbon inlay is optionally available. 

Aluminium-look shift paddles enable the driver to quickly shift the tiptronic’s gears. The pedals and footrest are finished in stainless steel.

The standard rear seat bench plus in the new Audi SQ5 is split into three segments. Depending on the position of the rear seat bench, the luggage compartment has a standard capacity of 500 to 610 litres. When the rear bench is folded down, this volume grows to 1,550 litres.

Infotainment and Audi connect

As standard, the SQ5 TFSI is fitted with the top-of-the-line MMI navigation plus infotainment system with MMI all-in-touch and an 8.3-inch display. The system recognises handwritten input as well as touch gestures familiar from consumer electronics, such as zoom. 

It also provides haptic feedback to input. One element is Audi connect, which connects the new SQ5 to the internet via LTE. 

Audi connect enables convenient roaming in Europe for many connected infotainment services with its permanently installed SIM card – the Audi connect SIM with a flat data rate. A 36-month subscription is included as standard.

With the package “Audi connect safety & Service”, customers receive help automatically or at the push of a button via the emergency call and online roadside assistance services in the event of an accident or breakdown.

Furthermore, users can easily lock and unlock the SQ5 via the MMI connect app on their smartphones. Customers can also check vehicle’s status and use additional services such as Car Finder and information about the next service appointments or warning messages.

The MMI operating logic is based on the flat hierarchies used in today’s smartphones, and it offers such features as intelligent free-text search. The natural-language voice control function also recognises inputs from everyday speech.

Serving as an additional third operating level in the new Audi SQ5 is the leather-covered multifunction steering wheel. Audi can deliver a newly developed head-up display as an option. It projects relevant information onto the windshield – including from driver assistance systems – as symbols and numbers that can be perceived quickly.

One highlight of the display and control concept is the optional Audi virtual cockpit. It displays all key information in razor-sharp graphics on its 12.3-inch monitor. Views available to the driver include an S-specific sport mode centred around the rev counter.

The Audi phone box, another optional feature, connects the smartphone to the on-board antenna by near-field coupling and simultaneously charges it inductively using the Qi standard. 

The Bang & Olufsen Sound System with new 3D sound is available for hi-fi fans. The Audi smartphone interface brings Apple CarPlay and Android Auto into the car.

Driver assistance systems

The new Audi SQ5 also picks up the driver assistance systems from the broad, high-tech portfolio of the Audi Q5.

The predictive efficiency assistant provides specific driving tips to helps the driver save fuel. Adaptive cruise control (ACC) including traffic jam assist can handle some of the steering work in slow-moving traffic. Audi active lane assist makes it easier to stay in lane. Distance warning alerts the driver when the distance to a vehicle drops below a safe distance.

Cross traffic assist rear, the exit warning system, collision avoidance assist and turn assist are other new features for safety in everyday traffic. 

The same is true for the pre-sense systems: Audi pre sense city is standard. The system warns the driver about pedestrians and vehicles, and initiates automatic emergency braking within system limits. Park assist, the camera-based recognition of traffic signs and hill descent control round out the features.

Audi debuts the World Premiere of the new A5 Coupe - bigger, faster, more efficient and still totally bonkers.

World premiere of the latest two-door, four-seat Audi icon 

• Intelligent multi-material construction method trims 60kg from its predecessor, making it the lightest body in its class
• More interior space, a longer wheelbase and a larger luggage capacity
• Two TFSI and three TDI engines, with outputs ranging from 190PS to 286PS, are up to 17 per cent more powerful and as much as 22 per cent more efficient
• Turbocharged V6 TFSI in the all-new S5 Coupé delivers 354PS and 0-62mph in 4.7 seconds
• Powerful six-cylinder engines for more driving pleasure and efficiency
• High tech interior with optional Audi virtual cockpit and Audi connect
• quattro with ultra technology  can be specified for four-cylinder manual TFSI and TDI engines
• Predictive efficiency assistant and traffic jam assist now available, along with cross traffic assist rear, collision avoidance and an exit warning system
• UK ordering expected to open towards the end of the summer 

Nine years after it first cut a dash and subsequently established itself as a modern-day Audi design icon, the all-new Audi A5 Coupé has undergone both a technological transformation and an artfully crafted styling evolution that brings it absolutely up to date and introduces a fresh, contemporary look while still retaining the graceful presence and elegant character of the original.

Its beautifully flowing bodywork has been aerodynamically optimised to deliver a drag coefficient of just 0.25, while beneath the skin is a new platform that reduces weight by up to 60kg over its predecessor. 

A range of powerful TDI and TFSI engines and an even more advanced suite of infotainment and driver assistance systems that are at the cutting edge of Vorsprung durch Technik also converge on the new Audi A5 Coupé.  

Body

The new Audi A5 Coupé sports a modern and honed look. It is nevertheless true to its DNA with the dynamic and elegant character being passed down to the new version. The best example is the wave-shaped shoulder line that already characterised the previous model. The precisely sweeping line with pronounced bulges over the wheel arches emphasises all four wheels – a cue to the quattro all-wheel drive.

The perfectly balanced proportions that comprise the long bonnet, the stretched wheelbase and short overhangs underscore the muscular presence of the new A5 Coupé. The sculpted Singleframe grille is significantly flatter and wider than in the previous model. The LED rear lights and optional LED or Matrix LED headlights with dynamic turn signals make high-end technology visible even after dark.

The Audi A5 Coupé is significantly more efficient than its predecessor. This is due in large part to a reduction in weight and a design that goes hand in hand with sophisticated aerodynamics. The engineers were able to trim kerb weight by as much as 60 kilograms. The body is the lightest in the competitive field thanks to an intelligent mix of materials and lightweight design. With a drag coefficient of 0.25, the A5 Coupé is also the segment leader with respect to aerodynamics.

Engines

The new Audi A5 Coupé will launch in the UK with five engines: two TFSI and three TDI units. Their power output has increased considerably and is now between 190PS and 286PS. Compared with the previous model, they offer up to 17 percent more performance while consuming as much as 22 percent less fuel. All of the engines combine high efficiency with impressive power and smooth running – especially the two 3.0 TDI six-cylinder engines.

With its newly developed 3.0 TFSI, the Audi S5 Coupé is now in a league of its own. The turbo V6 exhibits highly efficient, sports car performance. From its 2,995 cc of displacement, the boosted six-cylinder engine produces 354PS of power, which is 21PS more than the engine in the previous model. 

Drivetrain

The new Audi A5 Coupé comes with a drivetrain solution tailor-made for each engine variant. The manual six-speed gearbox and the seven-speed S tronic are used with the four-cylinder engines as well as the 218PS 3.0 TDI with front- or all-wheel drive. The eight-speed tiptronic is reserved for the top diesel with 286PS and the S5 engine. Both engines come standard with quattro all-wheel drive. Audi also offers the optional rear-axle sport differential for even more dynamic driving and precision.

The new quattro with ultra technology, which debuted on the new Audi A4 allroad quattro 2.0 TFSI, is also available on the Audi A5 Coupé. At the moment it can be combined with the four-cylinder TFSI and TDI engines with manual transmission. Optimised for efficiency, the drive system does not exhibit any perceptible differences to permanent systems in terms of traction and driving dynamics.

Chassis

The all-new chassis is among the strengths of the Audi A5 Coupé. It offers the driver optimal comfort combined with a high degree of agility. The A5 thus handles narrow, winding mountain roads and long trips on the motorway with equal aplomb. Audi offers a suspension with damper control as an option. This is integrated into the dynamic handling system known as Audi drive select, which enables the driver to modify the basic characteristic in multiple steps.

A new electromechanical power steering setup adapts according to the vehicle’s current speed and provides highly precise road feedback. Optionally available is the dynamic steering, which varies its gear ratio depending on the speed and steering angle.

Interior

The interior benefits from the increased dimensions and longer wheelbase. Space for driver and passengers is more generous. The horizontal architecture of the instrument panel and the continuous air vent strip create a wide sense of space.

As is typical for Audi, interior build quality is uncompromisingly high. High-quality materials in a wide range of colours provide for a particularly pleasant ambiance and underscore the premium character of the mid-sized model. Optional ambient lighting highlights the interior with a choice of 30 adjustable shades.

The new A5 Coupé also redefines the class benchmark for aeroacoustics. The acoustic comfort is almost that of a luxury class model.

The luggage compartment offers a volume of 465 litres, 10 litres more than with the previous model. The rear seat has a 40:20:40 split and can be easily folded forward using levers in the luggage compartment. Audi also offers the two-door coupé with optional gesture control for opening the luggage compartment lid via a foot motion. The optional trailer hitch is electrically released at the press of a button.

Display and controls

The A5 Coupé is now available for the first time with the optional Audi virtual cockpit, a 12.3-inch TFT display with a resolution of 1,440 x 540 pixels. Together with the MMI navigation plus including 8.3-inch monitor on the centre console, it forms the central information unit. The focal point of the MMI terminal is the round rotary pushbutton. Its surface is home to the touch-sensitive touchpad. The touchpad is used to input characters and also for multifinger gestures, enabling the driver to zoom in on the map, for example. The whole MMI control logic is similar to that of a smartphone, including the intelligent free text search function. The new, more natural voice control system can recognise input made using everyday language, such as: “I would like to call Peter.” 

Infotainment and Audi connect

When Audi connect is specified, a separate SIM card is permanently installed in the car with a flat rate data plan. The new Audi A5 Coupé uses this to connect to the Internet via the ultrafast LTE network. Use of the versatile Audi connect services is complimentary for three months, and can be extended via a subscription beyond this period. The respective national provider is selected automatically as needed in most European countries as needed, eliminating roaming charges when driving abroad.

The A5 will also be available with the Audi connect safety & service package. This includes such functions as an automatic emergency call in the event of an accident, online roadside assistance and Audi service request as well as remote functions that can be used with the MMI connect app on a smartphone, smartwatch or – in conjunction with the fourth generation Apple TV – from a television.

Examples include locking and unlocking the car, checking where the car is parked and calling up the vehicle status.

With the standard Audi smartphone interface, Apple Car Play and Android Auto bring the familiar smartphone environment to the car, if desired. The optional Audi phone box with wireless charging in the centre armrest uses near-field coupling to link smartphones wirelessly to the vehicle’s antenna and enables inductive charging according to the Qi standard.

For very discerning hi-fi fans, the Bang & Olufsen sound system with its innovative 3D sound is available as an option.

Driver assistance systems

An intelligent combination of different technologies enhances the safety, comfort and efficiency of the new Audi A5 Coupé. At the same time, Audi is also taking the next step toward piloted driving. The broad choice of innovative driver assistance systems sets standards in the segment. Compared with the previous model, nearly all of the systems are either completely new or have been extensively updated.

The predictive efficiency assistant helps the driver save fuel, Audi active lane assist helps keep the car on track in the driving lane, and the Stop&Go adaptive cruise control including traffic jam assist offers the driver relief in slow-moving traffic.

New and important safety features include the park assist, cross traffic assist rear, exit warning, collision avoidance assist and turn assist as well as the Audi pre sense systems. Camera-based recognition of traffic signs rounds out the lineup.

The new Audi A5 Coupé will launch in the UK in winter 2016. Compared with the previous model, the list of standard equipment is even more generous. Among the features included are xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights and LED rear lights, LED interior lights, the Audi MMI radio plus with 7-inch MMI colour display, Bluetooth and USB charging function, the three-spoke multifunction steering wheel (including shift paddles in models with automatic transmission), height-adjustable belt feeds, the Audi drive select dynamic handling system and Audi pre sense city.

The Audi S5 Coupé

The new Audi S5 Coupé combines dramatic elegance with the performance of a sports car. Its newly developed, turbocharged V6 engine produces 354PS and is capable of 62mph from rest in 4.7 seconds. The sharper S exterior design and the S-specific details in the interior underscore the dynamic character of the Audi two-door sports coupé.