New Audi Q5 goes hybrid-only

Brand's best-selling SUV to bridge the gap to its all-electric future

- CHARLIE MARTIN

Audi has unveiled the next iteration of its best-selling model, the Q5. The SUV, which made up 17% (334,480) of Audi's total global sales last year, will be used to anchor the brand as it shifts away from combustion engines and into electric cars.

Unlike the new A5 saloon and A5 Avant estate (News, 17 July), the third-generation Q5 won't be offered with a pure combustion engine. Instead, power will come initially from a range of mild hybrids - two petrol and one diesel - before the line-up expands to include plug-in hybrids.

The launch range opens with a 2.0-litre turbo petrol four that sends 201bhp and 251lb ft through the front wheels. Four-wheel drive is offered as an option.

The diesel matches this for capacity and power output but has a 44lb ft torque advantage and four-wheel drive as standard.

The range-topping SQ5 has swapped diesel power for an all-new mild-hybrid 3.0-litre turbo petrol V6 with 362bhp an increase of 20bhp.