Demand for high performance SUVs is on the increase in markets like China, the Middle East and the US and the tuning divisions of Mercedes-Benz and BMW have only been too happy to oblige. Audi however has lagged behind with no tuned versions of its 4x4 range... until now. Unveiled before the start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans the new SQ5 TDI is not only the first SUV 'S' car but also the first 'S' car to be powered by a diesel engine.
Exterior
S model trademarks such as aluminium exterior mirrors, double bar grille and modified bumpers separate the SQ5 from the common-or-garden variety Q5, and the new car will be offered in two new crystal effect paint finishes: Estoril Blue and Panther Black.
Sports suspension drops the SQ5 by 30 millimetres compared to the regular car and the SQ5 will be offered with S-badged 20-inch alloys as standard, with 21-inch items available as an option. The S badges also make their way to the brake calipers hidden behind the wheels.
Interior
As is typical for an S model, black interior trim is complemented by brushed aluminium inlays, but if the aluminium is not to your liking it can be swapped out for Carbon Atlas, Piano finish or the new Aluminium/Beaufort wood black trim panels. Power-adjustable sport seats come standard in Pearl Nappa leather/Alcantara with leather upholstery in a choice of four colours available as an option.
The instrument dials are grey and include a 3D-design S badge, the needles are white and the pedals and shift paddles have an aluminium-look finish. Additional visual highlights in the interior are the S gear lever knob, the S badges on the door sill trims, the start button and the specially-shaped steering wheel, the S welcome screen and the lighting package.
Luggage capacity is as much as 1,560 litres, while is also an unusually powerful towing vehicle, with a rated towing capacity of up to 2.4 tons.
Mechanicals
The first diesel S car is powered by the same 3.0-litre bi-turbo V6 engine as the recently released Audi A6 BiTurbo. The TDI unit produces 313hp and a gut wrenching 650Nm of torque from as low as 1,450rpm. Power is transmitted via Audi's eight-speed Tiptronic transmission and quattro permanent all-wheel drive with torque vectoring. Audi quotes a zero to 100km/h time of 5.1 seconds with a top speed of 250km/h. Fuel economy is said to be 39.2mpg (7.2 litres/100km) thanks to an innovative thermal management system, stop-start and a regulated oil pump.
Anything else?
The Audi SQ5 TDI will roll into dealerships in the first quarter of 2013, though there are no Irish prices as yet.