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Audi will show off a new hot SQ5 at the Geneva motor show, with a clever V6 TDI diesel engine. That engine uses a 48-volt mild hybrid setup and electric turbocharging to develop 347hp and 700Nm of torque from its 3.0-litre capacity.
Performance is pretty impressive - 0-100km/h in just 5.1 seconds, and an electronically limited top speed of 250km/h. On the current NEDC-correlated emissions test it scores a 177g/km CO2 rating, and returns 6.8 litres per 100km fuel economy.
The 48-volt mild hybrid system is a development of that used by the V8-engine SQ7 SUV, and stores its energy in a compact 10-amp battery tucked under the boot floor.
It powers an electric turbo (or electric powered compressor, EPC) which is actually part of the engine's conventional turbocharger system. A 7kw electric motor, mounted downstream of the usual exhaust-gas driven turbo, can drive an impeller to 65,000rpm in just 35 milliseconds. It does that when asked for full acceleration when there's not enough exhaust gas pressure in the system to drive the conventional turbo to its full speed. That will dramatically cut turbo-lag, and should significantly increase low-down performance. By itself, the EPC can produce turbo pressure of 1.4 bar, compared to the gas-driven variable turbine geometry turbo's 2.4 bar.
Aside from driving the electric turbo, Audi says that the mild-hybrid system can also save fuel, as much as 0.7 litres per 100km. It does that by allowing the engine to shut down and 'sail' for short bursts at motorway speeds, as well as allowing the stop-start system to activate even when the car is still moving at speeds of up to 22km/h, cutting fuel use in heavy traffic.
Almost needless to say, the SQ5 gets quattro four-wheel drive, biased 60 per cent rear, 40 per cent front, with the ability to send up to 85 per cent of the power to the rear wheels. There's also torque-sensing brakes, which can reduce wheelspin on an unloaded wheel, and there's an optional sports differential for the rear axle, which can torque vector the power between the rear wheels. An eight-speed Tiptronic automatic gearbox is standard-fit.
The SQ5 will also come with optional Dynamic Steering which can change the rack's ratio over a wide spread of inputs, and you can also specify adaptive air suspension, to replace the conventional multi-link setup, which comes with adaptive dampers and a 30mm lower ride height than a standard Q5.
Standard wheels are 20-inch items, with optional 21-inch versions, and you can have red brake calipers if you like.
There are all sorts of electronic driver assistants, including Audi's predictive efficiency assistant (which basically tells you to back off and coast up to junctions), active lane keeping, rear cross traffic warning and more. Autonomous emergency braking is standard.
Inside, the 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit display has a S-specific layout, borrowed from the R8 supercar, and there's an optional B&O stereo and Audi's 'phone box' connectivity kit which includes a wireless charging tray.
On the outside, you'll spot an SQ5 by its bodykit, which includes new bumpers, a big rear diffuser, an aluminium finish for the grille, and bigger air vents. Inside there are sports seats in Alcantara suede and leather, Alcantara trim on the steering wheel, Nappa leather, and aluminium trim.