Audi is finally set to unveil its new Q5 hybrid quattro on American shores.
Though there’s been no official word on price yet for the vehicle when it debuts this fall, reports suggest it could drop at somewhere north of $50,000.
The Audi Q5 hybrid, which we first reported on when it appeared at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, has been driven by Europeans for a bit already and is considered a crossover sports utility vehicle. The 2013 model year is what US drivers will be able to get behind the wheel for for the first time as part of a larger model line offering.
Powering the Q5 hybrid under the hood is Audi’s 2.0 TFSI engine with 155 kW (211 hp) and an electric motor with up to 40 kW (54 hp) and 210 Nm (154.89 lb-ft) of torque tied to a lithium-ion battery system with 1.3 kWh energy capacity. These combine for a total system power output of 180 kW (245 hp) and a system torque of 480 Nm (354.03 lb-ft).
Audi rates this hybrid to go from 0 to 62 MPH in about 7.1 seconds, hitting a top speed of around 140 MPH. Driving in a pure electric mode, the Q5 goes an incredibly short distance of only 1.86 miles at an average speed of just 37 MPH (it can go faster, but the range will likely drop). Combined fuel consumption is said to be 34 MPG, though this is dependent upon final EPA numbers.
The vehicle is outfitted with an eight-speed tiptronic transmission system and three driving modes that can be switched between. Like many other hybrids on the market already these modes offer a choice between electric drive, balanced driving and enhanced performance.
Features of note on the Q5 hybrid include all wheel drive; regenerative braking to return energy to the battery; special instruments which display the hybrid’s operating state, such as the powermeter, which replaces the tachometer; an Audi “connect system” that uses wireless 3G connectivity to provide Google Maps with realistic satellite imagery and voice search for better navigation; an in-car wireless hotspot for up to eight connected devices and some slight cosmetic changes on the exterior.
