Audi Q5 and RS6 set pace

With the arrival of the A4 and its variants, updated A3 hatch, hot S3, the A3 cabrio and the R8 super coupe, the 2008 pace was fast and furious.

The onslaught made Audi the fastest-growing premium brand in the country, with a 30 per cent jump in 2008 sales.

The eagerly awaited Q5 off-roader and RS6 sedan are just around the corner — and will be on show in Melbourne.

The Quattro all-wheel-drive RS6 shares the same Lamborghini-sourced V10 engine as the wagon.

It’s a twin-turbo 5.0-litre direct-injection motor that delivers the same power — 426kW at 6250 revs and 650Nm from just 1500 revs.

Granted, the RS6 will get the lion’s share of interest but it is the Q5 off-roader that will please families and off-road enthusiasts alike.

The Q5 looks like a shrink-wrapped Q7 and in design terms it borrows some of the same handsome cues.

Using the Quattro all-wheel-drive system, the Q5 distributes the power between the front and rear axle in a 40/60 split, for a rear-focused driving experience.

When needed, the all-wheel-drive system can deliver up to 65 per cent of the power to the front axle and a maximum of 85 per cent to the rear axle. Buyers have a choice of three engines in the Audi range — a 2.0-litre four and 3.0-litre V6 TDI, as well as a 2.0-litre TSFI petrol turbo.

The 2009 Melbourne International Motor Show...