Paris Motor Show 2016: New Audi Q5 Breaks Cover; Will Come To India Soon

(2017 Audi Q5 Dashboard)

The new Audi Q5 is based on the company's new MLB Evo platform, which also underpins the latest Q7, A4 and A5 models. Thanks to the new modular platform, the second gen Audi Q5 about a 100 kg lighter than the current version. This essentially translates into improved power output along with better fuel efficiency figures. That said despite the reduced weight the new Q5 has slightly grown in size, as the car now measures 4.66 meters in length, 1.89 meters in width, and 1.66 meters in height. The SUV now has a slightly longer wheelbase of 2.82 meter, offering enhanced cabin space.

In terms of styling the new Q5 shares most of its cues with the older sibling - the new-gen Audi Q7. Like the new Q7, the Q5 also comes with a chrome accented, single frame grille flanked by sharp LED headlamps and a muscular bonnet. The SUV also features a new sporty bumper that houses larger air intakes and a sleek central air dam and round foglamps. The car comes with a broad shoulder line and smooth character lines along with new sporty alloy wheels and a slightly slopping roof. The rear profile of the car is also new as you get new sharper LED tail lamps, a roof-mounted spoiler, new rear bumper the comes with a rear diffuser and well-masked exhaust pipe.

(2017 Audi Q5 rear)

The same thing can be said about the interior cabin where there's now an entirely digital 12.3-inch instrument cluster available as an option to replace the analogue dials. To avoid distractions behind the wheel, buyers will be given the possibility to order a head-up display set to project important information onto the windshield.

Under the hood, the new Q5 will come with the new 2.0 TFSI unit that is capable of churning out about 248bhp. In addition to that the car also gets an updated 2.0-litre TDI engine that comes in three states of tune - 147bhp, 161bhp, and 88bhp. The new Q5's powertrain option will also include a 3.0-litre TDI motor that produces a 281bhp and develops a peak torque of 620Nm. In India we'll probably get the 2.0-litre petrol and diesel mills only. While the latter two engines come with the option of either a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 7-speed S tronic automatic transmission, the beefier 3.0-litre TDI is mated to an 8-speed tiptronic as standard. Audi signature quattro all-wheel drive system will come as standard save for the base diesel variant, which will get it as an optional feature.