Audi Q's Up Its BMW X3 Beater

By Chris Thorp

20th July 2005

It's called the Q5, and this week's mag has an exclusive picture, showing how the designers have evolved the Allroad concept, revealed at the Detroit Motor Show in January, into a model which is ready for the showroom.

Offering all the advantages of the BMW X3 in an estate car package, the newcomer will go on sale alongside the larger Q7, which will take on the X5. A spiritual successor to the A6 Allroad, the Q5 will have more compact dimensions and be based on a modified version of the A4 platform.

It will feature the German firm's latest quattro all-wheel-drive system. While the transmission has historically been associated with high-performance models, the development of the Q7 SUV has provided a more off-road-oriented 4x4 set-up. Expect the Q5 to borrow existing engines from within the VW Audi empire, which means it's likely to get both the 2.0 and 3.0-litre TDI oil- burners. Performance fans will also be pleased to learn that, as well as the standard 2.0-litre FSI petrol, it could even be offered with the 197bhp turbocharged unit from the Golf GTI.

Inside, the cabin is set to include a mixture of trim from the A4 and A6 saloons to create a premium feel. Even entry-level models should be luxurious, and prices are tipped to reflect the high specification.

Expect to see the newcomer in the metal at one of next year's premier international motor shows, with an on-sale date scheduled for 2007.

And if you can't wait that long for your off-road Audi, the Q5's big brother, the Q7, will arrive first, with its unveiling scheduled for the Frank-furt Motor Show in September. The first deliveries of the larger model will be made early next year.