Audi Q5 getting 7-speed DSG

The Audi Q5 will reportedly make its official debut at the Bejing Motor Show next month and with Porsche's increased stake in the Volkswagen group – going from 31-percent to more than 50-percent – that means that VAG and Porsche might begin to finally play nice again with platform sharing.

Initially, the new Q5 was supposed to underpin Porsche's own mini 'ute, but rumors suggested that Audi's board nixed the idea for fear that a Porsche model sharing the same platform could steal sales from the new CUV. That's about to change as Porsche gets a few seats on VAG's board, and according to Autoweek, development of the vehicle-formerly-known as the Roxster is back in full swing.

While there's no new information about the Porsche, Audi's Q5 will be revealed packing the new seven-speed dual-clutch S-tronic gearbox mated to a longitudinal engine. The real benefit of the new DL500 transmission is that it can handle torque output up to 405 lb.-ft. and engine revs of 8,500 rpm. The new tranny will disseminate throughout the rest of the Audi lineup in coming years, first in Quattro models, including the new A4, and then on down to the automaker's front-wheel-drive models.

© Source: autoblog
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Audi Q5 - first hybrid version

In an interview with Automotive News, Joel Weinberger, head of Audi's dealer council, revealed some interesting information about the next Audi Q5. When questioned about the position of the market in the USA he replied, "The Q7 is a really big vehicle. Just size-wise you have to look at the (Lexus) RX 330 as your target. The Q5 will fit into that niche and it should not cannibalize the Q7. It will be bigger than the (BMW) X3 and (Acura) RDX. Smaller SUVs tend to be more female-oriented."

Other interesting news on the engine front: in the American market the hybrid variant will arrive first and only afterwards will the diesel version be released, "The Q5 will go hybrid first and not diesel. Audi has told me the unit cost of a diesel is $4,000 more but they realize they cannot sell it for $4,000 more - the premium will be half of that. We'll sell them if they can keep pricing in line."

© Source: eurocarblog
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2007 Audi Cross Cabriolet quattro Concept

It's not the production version of the new Q5 small SUV - that likely awaits a Geneva motor show introduction next year - but Audi's new Cross Cabriolet quattro concept carries some hints as to what the Q5 will do and look like when it bows next year.

The Cross Cabriolet quattro concept will be unveiled today at the Los Angeles auto show. The two-door, four-seat concept blends sport-ute traits with a convertible body, as the name indicates.

The engine motivating the concept is a six-cylinder turbodiesel with 240 horsepower. A version of Audi's new 3.0-liter turbodiesel six, the new engine comes with an ultra-low emission system using urea aftertreatment that meets European standards for the year 2014. The concept's engine is teamed with a a Tiptronic eight-speed automatic. Audi claims a 0-60 mph time of less than 7.2 seconds.

Audi's quattro all-wheel-drive system is of course beneath the Cross Cabriolet's skin. It is set up to push torque to the wheels in a 40/60 front-rear split. Under extreme circumstances the system can deliver 65 percent of available torque to the front wheels, or 85 percent to the rears. Adjustable shocks and ride height are baked into the all-road gear, and derived in part from the applications found in the current Q7 SUV.

© Source: thecarconnection
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