The 2017 Audi SQ5 has been revealed at the Detroit motor show with a 3.0-litre V6 engine, that produces 354hp, and a new differential technology engineered to increase oversteer.
The car's TFSI unit also produces 500Nm of torque and can accelerate the hot SUV from 0-100kph in 5.4sec. Top speed is limited to 250kph. The engine uses a higher compression ratio and high-pressure injectors, as well as a twin-scroll turbocharger to improve efficiency.
New for the SQ5 is an optional sport differential, which can send more torque to the outside rear wheel in order to encourage oversteer. The car uses five-link front and rear suspension and sits on 20-inch alloys as standard – 21-inch alternatives are optional. Braking is handled by six-piston front and four-piston rear calipers. The fronts bite into 350mm diameter discs.
Driver assist programmes include adaptive cruise control, traffic jam assist, active lane assist, cross traffic assist, collision avoidance assist and an auto parking function and hill descent control.
As standard, the SQ5 gets top-spec MMI infotainment with an 8.3-inch touchscreen. The system can receive handwritten inputs into its screen as well as gesture control. It also offers LTE internet connectivity.
Audi's virtual cockpit technology is optional; it uses a 12.3-inch display in place of the car's dials, and can be customised to show different information according to the driver's preferences.
In India, Audi is currently testing the next-gen Q5 with the SUV expected to launch sometime this year.