Audi is off to a blistering start to the new year with the unveiling of the second-generation SQ5. It shares the same 3.0-litre turbocharged petrol V6 as the S4 and S5, with deliveries scheduled to commence as soon as April this year.
The SQ5 gets full LED headlamps and LED tail lamps as standard, as well as 20-inch twin five-spoke alloys. Also included are S-specific bodykits and air suspension; the latter altering damping levels through the pre-programmed Audi drive select. Inside, the SQ5 receives the high-res 12.3-inch Audi Virtual Cockpit, head-up display and premium Nappa leather upholstery.
Up front, the new 3.0-litre V6 TFSI weighs 14kg (172kg now) lesser than the preceding supercharged unit. It produces 349 hp and 500 Nm of torque, numbers which yield a respectable century sprint time of 5.4 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h. The engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission (tiptronic, not dual clutch S tronic) driving all four wheels. Audi says the lower gears have much shorter ratios for quick accelerations, whereas the upper gears are longer for optimum fuel efficiency.
Just like the Q5, the SQ5’s quattro drive system intelligently manages and distributes power to any individual wheel. When your foot is off the throttle pedal, the transmission disengages from the engine and freewheels for even greater fuel efficiency. A sport differential and 21-inch alloys are optional.
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