Audi Q5 hybrid part of update

The updated mid-size SUV is due in Australia late this year or early 2013, with minimal styling changes but plenty of news under the bonnet.

Final Australian specifications will be announced closer to launch. However the new Q5 engine choices in Europe include three diesels, two petrols engines and a hybrid -- Audi’s first hybrid drivetrain in a production vehicle.

Power will come from a 155kW 2.0 TFSI engine together with a 40kW electric engine. Combined output will be 180kW/480Nm.

The hybrid promises a 0-100km/h time of 7.1 seconds and fuel economy of 6.9L/100km. But those figures – and even the enviable torque peak – fall short of the coming 3.0-litre diesel TDI.

The top of the range turbodiesel – a 3.0-litre V6 TDI -- delivers 180kW/580Nm, gets from zero to 100km/h in 6.5 seconds and sips just 6.4l/100km.

The 2.0-litre turbodiesel is offered in two versions:  a front wheel drive only 105kW/320Nm with average fuel economy of 5.3l/100km, and a quattro drive 130kW/380Nm returning 6.0l/100km. 

The 2.0 petrol TFSI engine delivers 165kW/350Nm and returns 7.6l/100km. The 3.0 TFSI engine is a supercharged V6 with outputs of 200kW/400Nm.  Acceleration from zero to 100km/h is claimed to be 5.9 seconds and average fuel consumption a respectable 8.5l/100km.

A start-stop system is now standard on all engines and together with improved transmission pairings these are up to 15 precent more fuel efficient than their predecessors.

Interior gadgetry includes improved infotainment options, integrated wireless hotspots for the passengers and Google navigation information for the driver. The Internet functionality also allows the use of internet radio which means more than 5000 radio stations can be received.

Then there’s the Audi drive select system which lets the driver tweak the characteristics of the accelerator pedal, transmission shift points, power steering and air conditioning load on the engine. There are three additional optional components that can be included in this system: adaptive cruise control, damping control and dynamic steering.