Audi chose the Le Mans 24-Hour race to announce its first-ever diesel-powered ‘S’ model – the SQ5 TDI.
Audi’s diesel-powered racers have in recent years dominated the famed Le Mans race and other major sports car races on both side of the Atlantic.
The twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre TDI delivers 230kW/650Nm and makes the SQ5 the leader of the pack in Audi’s new Q5 range. The SQ5 drives all four wheels via an eight-speed tiptronic automatic transmission and Audi’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system.
Zero to 100km/h takes just five seconds and the twin-turbo diesel records average combined cycle fuel consumption of only 7.2l/100kms.
In order to provide the sort of sound-track Audi performance fans demand, the SQ5 TDI is fitted with a ‘sound actuator’ in the exhaust system.
On the outside you can pick the SQ5 thanks to its platinum grey single-frame front grills, revised bumpers, roof spoiler and aluminium look exterior mirrors. Audi equips the SQ5 with standard five-spoke 20-inch alloy wheels or you can option some 21s.
Inside are the usual Audi ‘S’ extra such as alloy pedals and gear shift levers, grey dials with white needles, ‘S’ steering wheel and more. Sports seats are trimmed in Pearl Nappa leather/Alcantara and there are trim options including carbon, aluminium and timber.
Sporty though the Audi SQ5 TDI is, the Q5 is also a practical mi-size SUV with 1560-litre of cargo space and a towing capacity of 2.4-tonnes.
European sales of the Audi SQ5 TDI are slated to commence in the first quarter of next year.
