Key Takeaways
Audi teases the new Q5 ahead of its September 2 reveal. The new headlights look sleeker and more aggressive than before. Engines will likely mirror those offered in the all-new A5.
An all-new Audi Q5 is coming on September 2, replacing the second-generation model after eight years of service. Ahead of next week’s reveal, the Ingolstadt-based brand has shared a teaser image of the newcomer, giving us an idea of what to expect.
The teaser is a sketch of the headlights, which appear sharper and more dynamic than before. Naturally, the cluster contains dynamic LED lighting elements; Audi is a trailblazer when it comes to vehicle lighting, with advanced adaptive forward lighting systems and OLED digital rear lights that can communicate with other road users.
Borrowing Design Cues From The New A5 Lineup
From a design perspective, the Q5’s headlights look sportier and more aggressive than its predecessors; we expect the Q5 will borrow design elements from the all-new A5 lineup, bringing the SUV in line (style-wise, at least) with its sedan and wagon siblings. We expect the new Audi grille (broader and slimmer than before) to dominate the Q5’s front fascia. Of course, the design will be slightly different from its all-electric contemporary, the Q6 e-tron.
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Aside from the headlight teaser, the luxury car brand hasn’t shared much else, but Audi CEO Gernot Döllner says the Q5 line has come to represent Audi’s success for the past 15 years, so we don’t expect the basic recipe to be altered much – luxury, style, and capability in a premium package.
“With the third generation of our most successful SUV, we will now begin rejuvenating our SUV portfolio with efficient combustion engine models and hybrid versions.”
– Gernot Döllner, Audi CEO.
Here’s What Could Power The New Q5
While powertrain options have yet to be confirmed, we expect the engine lineup to mirror those found in the new A5. Overseas, the new A5 is available with a pair of turbocharged 2.0-liter engines that deliver 148 horsepower and 201 hp, respectively. A diesel will also be made available overseas. Interestingly, US customers will only receive the A5 with a 268-hp engine with standard quattro all-wheel drive. Mild-hybrid technology will not be available in the United States. A plug-in hybrid is also likely, given the popularity of the PHEV powerplant in the existing model.
As such, we expect the US-spec Q5 to follow suit, although this has yet to be confirmed. Let’s not forget the sportier SQ5 that is also due to arrive. Should it use the same turbocharged V6 as the A5, the new SQ5 will deliver 362 horses. Again, this has not been confirmed by Audi. The new Q5 is one of 20 new models that Audi will launch in 2024 and 2025. So far, we’ve seen the arrival of the Q6 e-tron, the A5, the A6 e-tron, the e-tron GT, and the revised RS 3 sports sedan. It remains to be seen what else is on the horizon, but a new RS 7 is also on the way.