Dubai – Following its first public appearance at the Beijing Motor Show in China, Audi Middle East has announced the arrival of the new Audi Q5 premium 5-seater SUV to the region in the second quarter of 2009. The new smaller brother of the already very popular Audi Q7 has been designed as a multi-talent for sport, leisure-time and family activities. A spacious interior with a myriad of intelligent functions and innovative technologies for dynamic driving excitement are once again proof of Audi’s claim, Vorsprung durch Technik.
At 4.63 meters long, 1.88 meters wide and just 1.65 meters high the Q5 is the sportiest SUV in its class and will stand out on the roads of the Middle East with its coupe-like styling, expressive grille and headlights, as well as the eye-catching LED technology used both in the daytime running lights and taillights. Alloy wheels of up to 20 inches will give the SUV a robust flair. Through a revolutionary front-shift of the front axle the Audi Q5 boasts the longest wheelbase in this segment (2.81 meters), which not only makes for a roomy interior that comfortably accommodates five persons and storage space up to 1,560 liters in volume, but also allows for the optimum distribution of axle load, good directional stability, high comfort and impressive dynamics. As only logical for a dynamic SUV, the Q5 will be built with the quattro permanent all-wheel drive as a standard with a 40:60 asymmetric/dynamic torque split and will be available with the Audi drive select, which changes the character of the car at the touch of a button.
The new Audi Q5 offers virtually countless clever features, many of them known from the luxury class only. These include a roof load sensor that allows the ESP (electronic stabilization program) to adjust to the higher center of gravity caused by roof loads, and innovative driver assistance and safety systems like the Audi parking system advanced with rearview camera, the navigation system with three-dimensional maps and the high-beam assistant which automatically switches between the high and low beams. Additionally the Audi Q5 features the Audi side assist, which monitors the vehicle blind spot, and the Adaptive cruise control which maintains a constant distance from the vehicle in front. Multiple storage functions like the foldable front seat allow for transportation of large objects such as surfboards and the triple-zone climate control system, the intelligent chip key with keyless entry and electromechanical parking brake guarantee highest levels of convenience for its owner.
Among the multimedia options the Audi Q5 will be available with MMI, the best operating system on the market with intelligent speech control system, Bluetooth telephone, a DVD drive and TV tuner, an iPod interface and MP3 capability as well as the top-of-the-line sound system from Danish specialists Bang & Olufsen.
The new Audi Q5 will be available in the Middle East with either a 211 bhp 2.0T or a 265 bhp 3.2 liter engine. Both engines feature the FSI gasoline direct-injection technology and the innovative Audi valvelift system for outstanding performance, hefty propulsive power and cultivated running while at the same time offering impressive fuel efficiency.
Prices and specifications for the Middle East have not been announced yet.
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About Audi
AUDI AG sold a total of 964,151 cars in 2007 and thus achieved its twelfth consecutive record year. With revenue of €33,617 million and profit before tax of €2,915 million, the company attained its best figures ever. Audi produces vehicles in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm (Germany), Györ (Hungary), Changchun (China) and Brussels (Belgium). At the end of 2007, production of the Audi A6 started in Aurangabad, India. The company is active in more than 100 markets worldwide. AUDI AG’s wholly owned subsidiaries include Automobili Lamborghini Holding S.p.A. in Sant’Agata Bolognese, Italy, and quattro GmbH in Neckarsulm. Audi employs about 54,000 people worldwide, including 45,000 in Germany. The brand with the four rings invests more than € 2 billion each year in order to sustain the company’s technological lead embodied in its “Vorsprung durch Technik” slogan. Audi plans to nearly double the number of models in its portfolio by 2015, from the 25 currently on offer to 40.
AUDI AG’s commitment to the region was confirmed through the foundation of its fully owned subsidiary in 2005: Audi Middle East . Sales in the Middle East rose by 38.2 percent to 6,380 cars in 2007 (2006: 4,616). The current Middle East model range comprises the A3, A3 Sportback, A4 Saloon and Cabriolet, A6 and S6, TT Coupe and Roadster, the A8, S8, the Q7 and the R8.
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