Audi Q5 News

Even though the September market showed mixed results across all segments, luxury off-roaders and sportscars were the exception, rocketing up the sales charts.VFACTS industry figures show a 31 per cent lift in luxury off-roader sales and 17 per cent rise in sportscar sales last month. The luxury off-roader numbers were buoyed by strong sales for the BMW X5, and several newcomers, including the Volvo XC60, Lexus LX, RX and Audi Q5.With the weather warming up, convertibles helped feed the lift in sportscar numbers. Perennial favourites like the Mini Cooper cabrio, Saab 9-3 cabrio and Mazda MX5 helped bolster sportscar sales for the month. The Audi A5, BMW Z4, Mercedes-Benz SLK and Volkswagen Eos also fueled buyer interest.The SUV segment overall was up almost 2 per cent compared to September last year. Other segments are also on the rise, thanks to the Federal Government's small business tax stimulus package. Compact off-roaders and light commercial van sales are up 5 per cent while 4x4 utes, light cars and medium car sales are also up.The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries chief executive, Andrew McKellar, says the robust September result is proof of further signs of a consolidation in the new vehicle market. "This was a good month with a stronger than expected result," he says.Overall 78,131 cars, SUVs and commercial vehicles were sold last month. This is down 3.5 per cent - or 2807 vehicles - compared to September last year. Despite a lift in optimism, McKellar says private buyers are still reluctant to return to the market. "Some areas of buyer confidence remain fragile and an interest rate rise is premature," he says. "The economic stimulus has resulted in positive business sales but private buyers need the confidence to return to showrooms in larger numbers."Year-to-date 681,974 new vehicles have been sold, down 13.1 per cent compared to the same period last year.Toyota remains in the top sales position for September with 16,007 vehicle sales, ahead of Holden with 9744 and Ford with 8427. Toyota's senior executive director sales and marketing, David Buttner, says the company expects to pass 50,000 sales in the last quarter for the first time this year. "Toyota is holding a substantial order book into October, and it is gearing up for an end-of-year rush from the business sector," Buttner says. Buttner says the company has fixed stock shortages of the top-selling HiLux.TOP 10  BRANDS    Sept           YTD 2009 (+/- on 2008)Toyota                   16,007             142,898       -22.3%Holden                      9744               85,667       -14.0%Ford                          8427               70,289       -13.7%Mazda                       7205               57,695         -7.2%Hyundai                    5484               47,625        36.4%Mitsubishi                4312               40,092        -16.3%Nissan                       4079               38,446       -15.8%Honda                       3939               31,787       -22.9%Subaru                      2807               27,225         -9.0%Volkswagen             2307               22,717         -5.4% 

The car in these photos has been given the supercharged 3-litre V6 from the S4, S5 Cabriolet and A6, stoked up an extra 55kW to give it peak power of 300kW – and apparently a 0-100km/h time of 4.4 seconds and top speed of 250km/h. The Q5 concept is on show for the Wothersee Tour, the annual Volkswagen/Audi GTI meet in Austria, and has also been given the appropriate bling for the occasion from the accessories department. The matt grey body paint is set off by red 21in versions of the RS4’s seven-doublespoke wheels, and red-accented nudge plate, roof rails and spoiler. The SUV is also 90mm wider and rides 60mm lower than the standard Q5. A hot version of the Q5 could be a fair contender against the M version of BMW's compact X3, and might get a nod in a world that is looking more towards downsizing. The Audi stand at the Wothersee Tour will also feature coupe and roadster versions of the TT RS with a 254kW 2.5-litre five-cylinder, which promises a 0-100km/h time under five seconds. Audi’s hero R8 supercar is also there in a special GT3 race version and in the ten-cylinder 5.2-litre production model that will top the range, with a 0-100km/h time of 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 315km/h.

"We are still investigating but we are pretty certain that the leaks are the result of stress and impact pressures from the cars being driven dynamically over rough roads during the media launch," Audi Australia's Anna Burgdorf says. "The repeated impacts and stress weaken the hose and it leaks." Two of the four 3.0 TDIs driven over a 32-kilometre bush track through the Snowy region lost steering assistance and were retired with fluid leaking from the front of the cars. Burgdorf says that a third car, also a 3.0 TDI used on the launch drive, suffered a similar failure while being driven on Sydney roads earlier this week. "The problem has been reported to Audi AG (head office in Ingolstadt) and a solution has been identified. All 3.0 TDI cars will now be fitted with an optimised servo hose." The potential for failure is restricted to the 3.0 TDI as it is the only model which uses the particular hose that leaked, Burgdorf says. "It is not something that has happened anywhere else during testing, development or launch programs. As far as we know it is unique to Australia but it will be addressed world-wide. "There are 120 cars (for Australia) that could possibly be affected and they will all have those hoses changed before being delivered. If any owner is inconvenienced while waiting for their car we will arrange a loan vehicle for them."  

Introducing the new Q5 off-roader, it was clear that showgoers were far happier to cast their eyes over Miss Hawkins’ curves rather than those of the new Q5 off-roader.The newest Audi joins the Q7 and arrives in March with prices starting at $59,900 for both the 2.0 TDI quattro and 2.0 TFSI quattro models. A powerful V6 3.2 FSI quattro follows at just $69,900 and the mighty $71,900 3.0 TDI aimed squarely at the BMW X3.Audi’s managing director, Joerg Hofmann, says there is plenty of room in Audi’s model portfolio for the Q5.“It is priced very competitively, and offers strong performance from each of its four direct injection engines,” he said.The 2.0 TDI engine also has another ace up its sleeve as it is exempt from Luxury Car Tax due to its low consumption of less than 7.0 litres per 100km.Hofmann said he expects the Q5 to follow in the footsteps of the Q7, luring buyers from other luxury brands.The Q5 will come with four engine variants, all with direct injection turbo-charged engines and quattro permanent all-wheel drive.At launch, both the 2.0 TFSI and 3.0 TDI will be available, closely followed by the 2.0 TDI and 3.2 FSI models in April. All Q5 models are equipped with an economical 7-speed S-tronic gearbox.This has super-slick gearchanges that take only a few hundredths of a second and deliver virtually uninterrupted power flow.The Q5 is the first model to feature this innovative dual-clutch transmission mounted to a longitudinal engine layout.It is matched to Audi’s quattro permanent all wheel drive system with a 40:60 torque split.The Q5 also boasts a luggage capacity of 540 litres with the rear seats up and 1560 litres with the seats folded.Innovative driver assistance systems such as a new MMI Plus Navigation system with 7-inch colour monitor and 40 GB hard drive with storage for up to 10,000 music files; blind spot warning system and “lane assist” to detect and prevent wandering out of your lan are among the car’s features.Also available is adaptive cruise control with a collision warning system that warns the driver and brakes when the car is too close to the car in front and an adjustable suspension system. ,p> The 2009 Melbourne International Motor Show... 

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...  

First look: Audi Q5Mazda3 MPS: world debut in MelbourneFirst look: Toyota PriusFirst look: Holden CruzeFirst look: 2009 Ford Focus rangeFirst look: Ford Fiesta ECOnetic turbo-dieselFirst look: 2009 Ford TerritoryFirst look: Ford Mondeo Zetec wagonHSV E-Series Senator SignatureFirst drive: Subaru Stella electric carSubaru Stella joins plug-in pushToyota Prius, Hybrid Camry and 1/xCareers for car fansHolden Monaro from HALSuzuki Alto hatchFR1 to be auctionedFR1 the new heroBentley Continental GTC: amazing graceRenault Koleos an off-roads scholarSales make for testing times ‘09Future motoring explainedSafety advances on showHyundai i30 blue and i10 blueNissan 370Z …good sportsMitsubishi I MiEV …Power playIt’s electricVW Golf gets new stylePeugeot 308CC back in the foldMazda3 …small is beautifulLotus Evora No.1 for sports car enthusiastsLexus LF-A Roadster coming to MelbourneLamborghini Spyder LP560-4 and Murcielago LP640FR1 concept hotrod from a metal masterBMW M1 homageAudi Q5 and RS6 set paceNew 2009 Ford Territory Melbourne Motor Show wrapby Paul GoverSupermodels and colourful supercars blew the grey clouds away from the Australian motor industry yesterday.A sales slump and gloomy profit forecasts were forgotten as more than$15 million worth of shiny new cars, from exotic dream machines to tiny city runabouts, was unveiled at the opening of the 2009 Melbourne International Motor Show.There were more than 20 newcomers on the show stands, from the Audi Q5 SUV and BMW's smooth new Z4 coupe-convertible to the family-focussed Subaru Exiga wagon.The lineup at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre is a reflection of the diversity and complexity of the Australian motoring scene, as well as the commitment from companies to push ahead despite the global economic uncertainty."I wouldn't say the mood is exactly optimistic, but there is great resilience. There are a lot of good news stories here," the former head of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, John Conomos, said.The three Australian carmakers all had important newcomers, from the Holden Cruze and Toyota Prius hybrid to the updated Ford Territory, but they resisted the temptation for an over-the-top splash."This show is about much more than cars, it's about Holden's future,"said company chairman, Mark Reuss."We could easily have shown you a wild concept or show car, but this is not the show for that. Today it's about providing real solutions."Holden used the show to also make another value push with its Commodore sedan and Sportwagon, introducing an 'International' value pack.The show is also the last in Melbourne until 2011, as a joint-venture deal has recently been struck which will see an all-new Australian Motor Show alternating with Sydney from 2010."We are expecting a good turnout. There is a lot to see and people are still interested in cars," said show boss, Russ Tyrie of the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce.The motor show runs each day until Monday, March 9. 

Everything from an A5 cabrio, A5 Sportback, A4 Allroad wagon, A7 four-door sports coupe, A1 Sportsback, Q3 off-roader and R8 convertible is on the books.But Audi Australia is not revealing just what is likely to head to Australia.Audi Australia general manager of marketing, Immo Buschmann, is giving little away on the new arrivals, only confirmed the early 2009 launch of the Q5 off-roader.However, he hints that an A5 Sportsback and maybe an A4 Allroad were on the cards."But we have not decided," he says.He says he is unaware specifically what the Germany headquarters has in store for Australia regarding new models.Recently, Audi AG's product development chief, Michael Dick, revealed to European media that Audi's range of 22 vehicles will grow with another 18 "in our heads".It is believed the A5 convertible will be unveiled in Europe before the end of the year with an A5 Sportback arriving next year, followed by the Q3.The A5 Sportback will be designed to fill a gap between the A4 Avant and A6 Avant.Performance derivatives are believed to be among the mix, with an R5 and RS5 mooted.One thing is clear though, the huge investment local dealers have taken in new "Terminal" showrooms will pay off.The first "Terminal" dealership cost $12 million and is located in Sydney's Five Dock.It is the first of a design that will be adopted globally."Our dealers have invested heavily to be able to display and sell these new cars," he says."The Q5 is our next big launch."Audi is expected to launch the car with a tough Trans-Continental drive through Outback Australia like the successful Q7 launch.Speaking at the launch of the RS6 Avant, Buschmann, says although the focus on RS is to maintain exclusivity, he admitted that in the future, the company may have to broaden the RS thinking."If there is demand to broaden the RS portfolio then we will look at it," he says."The ethos of the RS is entirely up to our product strategists."But I imagine we would look at a top-down approach when we look at eligible RS cars, those that have the necessary DNA." 

Its latest bonny baby, the compact four-wheel-drive GLK, is heading our way.But when the pre-shrunk version of the M-Class gets here, probably late in 2010, it will be missing one vital ingredient - all-wheel drive.Benz has confirmed the Daimler-developed GLK compact will initially be sold here as a rear-wheel drive.An all-wheel-drive version won't hit our market until the second-generation model, now under development, is released. It is also tipped to feature a hybrid diesel/electric power train.By then Benz will have sorted out an oversight in the GLK's design.The right-hand-drive versions can't be fitted with all-wheel traction because there is no room for the system without making costly engineering changes.The GLK wasn't on the radar for Australia because it was designed for left-hand-drive markets.That left Benz without a contender in the booming Australian SUV market to fight BMW's X3, Audi's Q5, VW's Tiguan and the Volvo XC60.Now it appears Benz has had a change of heart after reviewing a business case study put up by Britain and Australia. When it does arrive, there will be a choice of 3.5-litre V6 petrol or a 2.2-litre diesel with 400Nm of torque on tap.Meanwhile, Australians are being denied one of the more potent models in the Benz coupe line-up - the 4Matic version of the stunning C-Class CL500.It's the first time the all-wheel-drive system has been fitted to a luxury coupe and would have fitted the Australian market well, but it is also not made in right-hand drive.The lightweight 4Matic system splits drive between front and rear wheels through a planetary gear centre differential, which also has a twin-plate clutch to allow some variance in torque between axles. 

So it is no surprise, with the explosive growth in Chinese sales, that Audi chose the Beijing Motor Show revealing the newest addition to its line-up.The Q5 all-wheel drive is baby brother to the Q7 and will go up against a growing range of mid-sized prestige wagons including the BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLK and forthcoming Volvo XC60.The Q5 will cost about $75,000, making it a premium contender, when it reaches Audi showrooms next year.By then it will already be available in China, which has quickly become one of Audi's biggest and most important markets outside the US. It is already ranked second to America in total sales, even if most are sub-standard local vans, and will soon overtake it for global leadership.Audi lifted its Chinese sales 25 per cent in the first quarter this year by delivering 30,000 cars, a result that already makes it No.1 outside Europe. It expects to sell 110,000 cars this year, to top BMW and Mercedes-Benz.Two Q5 models were unveiled in Beijing, a 176kW/500Nm 3.0-litre TDI and 125kW/350Nm 2.0-litre TDI four cylinder.A 188kW/330Nm 3.2-litre petrol V6 is destined for the US market.The 2.0-litre TDI four-cylinder turbodiesel engine is shared with the A4 and Audi hopes to build a hybrid model too.The 2.0 TDI is available with a six-speed manual transmission or six-speed automatic, but the petrol and V6 TDI engines are mated to Audi's new seven-speed double clutch gearbox, called S-Tronic.The 3.0-litre turbodiesel is expected to be the biggest seller and has a claimed 0-100km/h sprint time of 6.5 seconds, a top speed of 225km/h, and 7.7 litres for 100km combined fuel economy.Like the A5 coupe, the Q5 will have a quattro drive system with a 40:60 torque split for optimum handling, and a five-link front aluminium suspension and trapezoidal-link rear setup.The Q5 is slightly longer and lower than a BMW X3 and is aimed at the Lexus RX350, Land Rover Freelander and Volvo XC60. But it will be at a premium price because the X3 and Freelander both cost more than $60,000.Unlike the Q7, which shares some structure with the Porsche Cayenne, the Q5 has mechanics from the A5 coupe and A4 sedan and shares the same wheelbase with the A4. 

Less than two months after Audi announced its multi-million dollar plans to cement its future in Australia, the big spending has continued for the parent company Audi AG, with further plans of investm