It surely can't be any co-incidence that on the same day that Jaguar gives us its first look at the new F-Pace crossover, Audi is releasing info on an updated sporty SQ5? We sense a bit of needle in the air...
Anyway, here is the new SQ5, as ever the hot, high performance version of the Q5 SUV. As before, it's powered by a grunty, smooth 3.0-litre V6 TDI turbo diesel, but whereas the standard version is pretty powerful, this new SQ5 Plus uses a twin-turbo (Audi calls it BiTurbo) V6 TDI to produce a whopping 340hp (27hp up on the standard SQ5) and 700Nm of torque, 50Nm more than the regular SQ5, which we will from now on have to refer to as the 'Girly-Girly SQ5.'
The 0-100km/h dash is done in just 5.1 seconds, and top speed is limited to 250km/h. Audi claims it will do 6.6 litres per 100km (better than 40mpg) on the combined cycle and has Co2 emissions of 174g/km.
Quattro four-wheel drive is standard, of course, and the SQ5 Plus comes with 21-inch cast aluminum wheels in five-twin-spoke star design from Audi Sport with 255/40 R21 tyres.
Inside, you get quilted Nappa leather seats, while the exterior styling is beefed up with the gloss-black finish for things like the mirrors, roof rails and door handles. Audi has also, through quattro GmbH, put together the special equipment package "Audi exclusive selection macaw blue", which is limited to 100 units, for the SQ5 TDI Plus. The body is painted in the customized color macaw blue, crystal effect and the interior comes with sport seats in black fine Nappa leather. Matching the exterior color, the macaw blue contrasting stitching on the seats, the steering wheel, the selector lever gaiter and the floor mats provides colorful highlights. The inlays in aluminum/Beaufort, black, round out the overall concept. The exclusive equipment package can be ordered at launch from a price of €12,000 (before taxes).
Update on 14 December 2015:
Audi Ireland has confirmed that the price of the SQ5 Plus will be €85,250. The order books are open now.