Before the firm even lifted the trophy for its dominant Le Mans showing, Audi had lifted the wraps off the SQ5 – its most powerful iteration of the Q5 boasting 230 kW from its twin-turbo V6 TDI powerplant.
The SQ5 TDI marks the S line’s first foray into diesel territory – a move that is gaining further credence with the likes of BMW’s M Performance division showing that diesel doesn’t have to equate to dull.
At the heart of the SQ5 TDI sits a twin-turbo 3,0-litre V6 diesel that belts out 230 kW and 650 N.m of torque. Mated with an 8-speed tiptronic transmission, this engine sends its shove to all four corners via an uprated version of Audi’s Quattro all-wheel drivetrain. According to Audi, the QS5 TDI can despatch the zero-to-100 km/h run in just 5,1 seconds, reach a top speed of 250 km/h and return an average fuel consumption figure of 7,2 l/100 km.
Styling-wise, the SQ5 TDI features more aggressive front and rear valances, 20-inch alloy wheels, aluminium-effect wing mirror caps, a model-specific grille, roof-mounted rear spoiler, quad exhaust outlets and a ride height lowered by 30 mm. The interior changes are limited, but include a smattering of S badges, sports seats and revised instrumentation.
Watch a video of the Audi SQ5 TDI