Audi Q5

The new Audi Q5 with a 2.0 TFSI engine* weighs just 1,720 kg (3,792.0 lb) unladen (without driver). The body creates the basis for this low weight figure – it is the lightest in the segment. Despite larger dimensions, the occupant cell alone has shed around 20 kg (44.1 lb) compared to the previous model. The car as a whole has lost up to 90 kg (198.4 lb) depending on the engine version.

The key factors here are new solutions in geometric lightweight construction and an intelligent material mix, in which aluminum plays a large role. The front cross-member is an extruded profile of this lightweight metal. Profiles and sheet aluminum are combined to form the module cross member under the instrument panel. Highly integrated cast aluminum parts form the front strut tower domes in the new Audi Q5. Their construction is light and very stiff. This lets them join the upper links of the front axle to the body with high precision – for a plus in driving dynamics.

The engine hood of the new SUV and the tailgate are also made of aluminum. In deep-drawing the tailgate in the press, what is known as an intelligent tool is in play, a development by Audi. Laser sensors measure how the sheet behaves during forming, and if necessary, electrically actuated drawing aids make fine adjustments to the pressure. This results in precision in the range of thousandths of a millimeter.

High-strength backbone: the occupant cell

Hot-formed parts form the high-strength, crash-safe backbone of the occupant cell. They reinforce the transition from the front body to the interior, the front zone of the roof frame, the B-pillars, side sills and parts of the floor. The proportion of these parts in the body structure is 20 percent. In hot-forming, the sheet metal blank is first heated to a temperature above the material’s recrystallization temperature in an oven, then it is formed in a water-cooled press tool. In this process, the sheet metal is removed from the heat as quickly as possible. This results in a material structure with extremely high tensile strength.

What are known as tailored rolled blanks are used for many of the hot-formed body parts in the Audi Q5. These blanks can be rolled to the appropriate thickness where necessary, which leads to a weight savings of 4.6 kg (10.1 lb). In the B-pillars Audi is using another high-end technology: partial heat treatment. Individual zones can be cooled at different rates within the tool, which affects their strengths. In a side crash, the B-pillar deforms in the lower zone to absorb impact energy. On the other hand, the pillar hardly deforms at all in the upper zone – at head height.

Along with low weight, the body of the new Audi Q5 exhibits other strengths – high torsional rigidity and excellent vibration behavior. When idling, the switchable engine mounts reduce vibration and noise even more. The new SUV also gets top grades in crash safety. In the interior, the adaptive restraint system adjusts the task of the front airbags and the seat belt force limiters to the seating position of the driver and front passenger as well as to the type of frontal collision.

cd 0.30: top figures in aerodynamics

In terms of its aerodynamics, the new Audi Q5 is at the top of its class. All four-cylinder versions attain a cd figure of 0.30 with their aerodynamically optimized wheels. This top result is based on the aerodynamic basic vehicle body and meticulous fine tuning of many details. It begins at the front apron, where the air intake screens on the sides were designed such that they did not increase the cd figure.

The decorative screen was optimized to ensure that the partially detaching airflow would reattach on the side of the bumper shortly before reaching the front wheels. To further reduce aerodynamic drag, a controllable cooling air intake is used in the Q5 2.0 TFSI* which generally closes the upper air intake. It is only necessary to open the controllable cooling air intake in the few situations in which cooling demand is elevated. This technology has a noticeable effect on CO2 emissions.

The aerodynamic concept of the new Q5 also includes the exterior mirrors and the wheels. Customers can choose wheels with very low air drag. The Q5 achieves the lowest cd figure of 0,30 – a benchmark in the competitive class – with the aerodynamically optimized “aero-wheel”, a two-tone 17-inch wheel that is closed off to a great degree. At the rear, the long roof spoiler and louvers optimize detachment of the airflow. Even the tail lights have small separation edges.

The underbody of the new SUV also guides the airflow by means of wheel spoilers and large plastic covers. The engine compartment is encapsulated, and panels cover the sheet metal under the passenger cell. Between the transmission cross beam and the rear axle, there is a special capsule that is designed differently according to the specific engine and exhaust train. The transverse links of the rear suspension are also covered, which keeps lift low and also provides protection from stone impact.

The new Audi Q5 also sets the bar at a new level when it comes to aero-acoustics. Its interior is as quiet as vehicles in the next higher class. Key factors here include the exterior mirrors, double door seals and aero-acoustically optimized water drain channels. An acoustic windshield and thick standard glazing are also standard equipment. For even greater comfort inside the vehicle, Audi also offers optional acoustic windows for the front doors.


The equipment, data and prices specified in this document refer to the model range offered in Germany. Subject to change without notice; errors and omissions excepted.