South Asia Blog: Audi Q5: The Car that Amazed Katrina Kaif

On June 4, 2009, Audi AG, the famous German luxury automaker, launched its compact SUV, the Audi Q5, in India. Famous Bollywood actress, Katrina Kaif, was present at the official launch party of the Audi Q5 in South Mumbai, along with fashion designer Manish Arora and actor Rahul Khanna. Dressed in blue, Katrina praised the car’s spacious. Since Katrina is taller, she needs a car that offers lots of leg space and the Audi Q5 is just the ideal car for the actress. Once, high-end foreign luxury car was unthinkable in India. Now, the scenario has changed a lot. India today is one of the emerging car markets in the world. Last year, the country observed a major surge in the sales of SUV and other high-end luxury vehicles. Though economic recession dented car sales, automakers kept on introducing new SUVs and other high-end cars in the Indian market.

Audi India is looking forward to sell 100 Audi Q5s this year and 400 in 2010. The Audi Q5 was launched in Europe last year. It has been voted the best off-road vehicle by “Auto Motor und Sport,” a top German auto magazine. The Audi Q5 has been awarded the Golden Steering Wheel. The Audi Q5 is a crossover which “combines a sports sedan with a quattro permanent all-wheel drive.”

The AudiQ5 has two variants. One variant of Audi Q5 features a 240-horse power 3.0 liter V6 turbo diesel engine and the other variant of Audi Q5 features 2.0 liter TFSI gasoline four cylinder engine that has been used in Audi A4. Both the engines are direct injection units with turbocharger offering high power and great fuel efficiency.

Dimension and color:

Length: 4629 mm

Width: 1880 mm

Height: 1653 mm

Front wheelbase: 1617 mm

Overall wheelbase: 2807 mm

Colors: Stratos Blue, Garnet Red, Ice Silver, Meteor Grey, Phantom Black and Ibis White.

Engine specifications of Audi Q5 3.0 TDI Quattro

Engine type: V6 cylinder diesel engine with turbocharger and second generation common rail technology.

Capacity:2967 (4) cm³

Maximum output: 176/4000-4400 Kw/rpm

Maximum torque: 500/1500-3000 Nm/rpm

Drive type: Permanent all-wheel drive quattro.

Transmission type: 7-speed Stronic

Weight volume:

Unladen weight: 1865 kg

Permitted total weight: 2445 kg

Performance & consumption:

Top speed: 225 km/h

Acceleration: 6.5 seconds (0-100 km/h)

Fuel type: Diesel.

Fuel consumption: 10.9 l/km (urban) 15.2 l/km (extra-urban) 13.3 l/km (combined)

Engine specifications of AudiQ5 2.0

Engine type: Inline four-cylinder spark-ignition engine with exhaust turbocharger and intercooler, DOHC.

Capacity: 1984 (4) cm³

Maximum output: 155/4300-6000 Kw/rpm

Maximum torque: 350/1500- 4200 Nm/rpm

Drive type: Permanent all wheel drive quattro.

Transmission type: 7-speed Stronic

Weight volume:

Unladen weight: 1740 kg

Permitted total weight: 2320 kg

Performance & consumption:

Top speed: 222 km/h

Acceleration: 7.2 seconds (0-100 km/h)

Fuel type: Premium unleaded.

Fuel consumption: 9.6 l/km (urban), 13.7 l/km (extra-urban), 11.8 l/km (combined).

Other major features of the Audi Q5:

Audi Hold assist: While driving in hilly region, the “Audi hold assist” makes sure the car remains stationary in one place. Users do not need to use handbrakes. The driver can activate the system by pressing a button. If the “Audi hold assist” remains activated for a long time, the system automatically activates “electromechanical parking barkes.”
Advanced parking system: The advanced parking system uses eight ultrasonic sensors fitted into the car's bumpers. They detect any obstacles and provide instant feedback to the control unit. This enables driver to park the car in tight spaces.
The driver's seat of the Audi Q5 comes with memory function. It allows the driver to store his preferred settings and restore it if it is changed. The memory even stores mirror settings of the exterior mirrors.
Electromechanical parking brake system: Compared to old handbarke system, the electromechanical parking brake system is a combination of functions. After the driver fastens his seat-belts, the brake is released automatically. It can be activated by pulling a lever.
The exterior mirrors can be folded if the car is parked in a tight space. The anti-glare system allows the mirror to dim progressively if the vehicle from the rear emits brighter light. It enables the driver see the vehicle.
The folding front passenger seat helps to create more space if you are carrying long objects.
High-beam assistant determines the amount of light necessary at any point in time. It manages between main beam and dipped beam automatically. The driver does not need to manually adjust the light.
SUVs are also made to run offroads. The hill start assists make sure that upon releasing the brakes, the vehicle does not roll back.
The two-part luggage compartment of the Audi Q5 allows the owner to carry lots of luggages without any hassle. There is also a twelve volt socket. There is a big net that reduces sliding of objects.
Multifunction leather steering wheels allow the driver to gain full control of the vehicle with great ease. It allows the driver to focus on traffic. The steerings are available with or without gearshift. They allow the driver to control audio, radio, telephone and a host of other devices without moving his hands from the steering.
If you need more air, just open up the sun roof. It complements the airconditioning.
Rear seat bench plus increases the luggage compartment. It also helps to maximize the comfort of the rear passenger.
Audi music interface allows the user to synchronize his iPod or MP3 player with the car’s Audi MMI through a USB port. You can chose titles, genres, artists, albums using MMI controls of your multifunction steering wheel. It will also charge your portable media playing device.
The Bang and Olufsen Sound System provides great audio and video experience to the passenger. Tuned to the sporty interior, there are fourteen high performance speakers that are fitted with exclusive aluminium trim covers. They are powered by a ten channel amplifier.
Driver Information System (DIS) brings a wide range of information and shows the current operational status of the car. It shows open warning for door and luggage compartment. There is also auto check control, radio station name and frequency, outside temperature display (including ice warning), speed warning function, on-board computer, automatic gear-box selector lever settings and telephone number and names in the telephone book. In addition, it also checks the brake and light systems.
MMI High system provides great entertainment to the passengers of Audi Q5. It includes a high quality radio, a 7" high resolution colour display, MMI control panel with joystick, two SD memory card readers, speech dialogue system, vCard function which enables the user to transfer all his stored contracts in vCard format to cellphones or PDAs via Bluetooth.
The Audi Q5 has mobile phone preparation system that allows you to make calls, swap data and charge your mobile phone inside the car. The car can support a wide range of telephone models with Bluetooth.

Price:

Interestingly, according to the famous automobile website, Edmunds.com, the price of the Audi Q5 in India is twice the price of its US version. The base 2.0 TFSI model costs Rs. 3.829 million and the 3.0 TDI variant will cost Rs.4.4 million.Users can also have accessories such as panoramic sunroof, reverse camera which will cost more. The AudiQ5 is now available in all the eleven dealerships of Audi including Delhi, Gurgaon, Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kochi.