Audi Q5 Sportback – Sculptured, sleek and mild hybrid power
Audi is expanding its model range with a coupé, the Q5 Sportback. On sale in the UK from January next year it will be priced from £52,450 with the first customer deliveries due in May 2025.
The Q5 Sportback combines characteristics typical of an SUV, such as versatility and space, with a more sculptured silhouette and characteristic sloping rear line. It’s sleeker than its predecessor with razor-sharp, sculptural headlights that lend the car a purposeful stance.
The idea of an SUV Coupe isn’t new and other manufacturers, such as BMW‘s X6 and Mercedes Benz’s GLE, have their own entrants in this market. Audi’s Q5 Sportback arguably lacks the visual bulk of some competitors with a more design led style.
Based on a platform for conventionally powered vehicles with longitudinal combustion engines, it comes equipped at launch with MHEV plus technology. The new 48-volt MHEV plus electrical system supports the combustion engine reducing emissions and increasing performance. The vehicle is also capable of limited all-electric manoeuvring and parking.
The 48-volt electrical system enables the use of an electric air conditioning compressor. This ensures the AC continues operating at full power, maintaining a comfortable interior temperature even when the engine is switched off, such as when coasting or at a red light.
The lithium-ion battery for vehicles with MHEV plus is based on lithium ferro-phosphate chemistry and boasts a storage capacity of 1.7kWh. The primary function of the belt alternator starter (BAS) is to start the engine and supply electrical power to the battery. The BAS enables stretches of electric driving and during braking, it returns energy to the battery (recuperation) with up to 25kW of power. Partial electrification, in the form of mild hybrid will later see plug-in hybrids with a larger battery and external charger.
In the UK, the Audi Q5 Sportback specification line up mirrors the SUV will be available with three engines at launch with further variants to follow. All versions come equipped with MHEV plus technology, which briefly generates up to 24PS (18kW) of additional power. All models in the series also use the S tronic seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and quattro all-wheel drive.
Q5 Sportback is priced at £2,500 above the equivalent Q5 SUV. The powertrain line-up is consistent across both body styles, as are the specification options: Sport, S line,
and Edition 1.
Words by Mark Slack
