Audi Q5 facelift open for bookings today
The facelifted Audi Q5 will reach Malaysian shores by the end of this month, and the order books are now open with prices starting at RM328,000 on-the-road before insurance and options. Only one engine is offered, an uprated version of the 2.0 TFSI engine already in use paired exclusively to an 8-speed automatic transmission.
Sporting a 7% increase in power over its predecessor, the new Q5 makes 225hp @ 4,500 – 6,250rpm, up from 211hp available previously. Torque remains at 350Nm, but it is now spread over a wider window, spanning from 1,500 to 4,500rpm. In its 8-speed auto guise, the Q5 powers to a top speed of 222kph, clocking 7.1 seconds for the century sprint along the way.
Audi’s thorough rework of the already-advanced EA888 powerplant has included revisions to its valve control system, thermal management, injector mapping, turbocharger, and integration of its exhaust manifold to the cylinder head; all measures to bring about improved efficiency. Audi claims a 7% improvement over its predecessor, clocking 7.9 l/100km in the combined cycle.
The new 8-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic function replaces the previous 7-speed S-tronic dual clutch ‘box. Regulation of its fluid temperature is integrated to the engine’s new thermal management system to shorten warm-up during cold starts. The wider spread of ratios in the 8-speed ‘box is able to give a better balance between fuel consumption and in-gear response.
Quattro all-wheel drive is standard in the Q5, and Audi has specified a default 60% rear-biased torque split under normal operating conditions, although rapid redistribution of that figure is possible when necessary. The Q5 also comes with torque vectoring control for even better cornering performance. The chassis retains its all-independent suspension architecture, but tweaks have been made to the springs, shocks, and anti-roll bar ratings to further improve refinement and comfort.
Like all good facelift exercises, the Q5 comes with the usual light and bumper revisions. The design of its headlights has been modified with LED daytime running lights forming a strip, whilst its xenon plus tail lights also incorporate a visually uniform LED light strip. The trademark single frame grille is finished in high-gloss black, and its modified bumpers integrate air inlets with high-gloss black inserts and fog lights with chrome rings.
Inside, Audi has added shine with chrome and high-gloss black treatment to various cabin and dashboard panels. Ergonomics have been fine-tuned with fewer buttons for the MMI navigation plus system. A new feature added as standard is drowsiness detection, which monitors steering inputs and other parameters to decide if it should recommend a break to the driver.
Customers with sportier tastes and a bigger budget to spend may consider the S line package which gets revised bumpers, side radiator grilles, and diffuser inserts at an added cost of RM36,000.
Picture: Official Audi release.
