Photo Renderings: 2009 Audi Q5

February 6, 2008 Omar Rana

We were pretty disappointed at the LA Auto Show, when the Audi Q5 was a no show despite word from credible sources prior to the press days. Instead we had to pretend to be pleased with the fugly Audi Cross Cabriolet Quattro Concept (of which you’ll see hints of in the Q5). However, the Audi Q5 has been spotted many times after the LA Auto Show and we now have photo renderings based on the latest spy shots.

To clear up some confusion, we’ve been asked many times what the Q5 will compete with. Initially when word came about of the Q5, many said the smaller sibling to the Q7 will compete with the likes of BMW X3 and the upcoming Mercedes GLK. However, that’s not the case. Audi is working on a more compact SUV dubbed the Q3, which will go head-to-head with the X3, GLK and the Acura RDX. The Audi Q5 is a mid-sized SUV which is built on the Audi MLP platform like the A5 and is targeted more towards the Acura MDX, Lexus RX and Mercedes M-Class crowd.

Click through for more info and the photo renderings.

According to the leaked Audi 2008 internal product launch document, the Audi Q5 will debut in Germany with three engine variants. The first being a 2.0 TFSI that will produce an output of 207hp . The second two will be TDI versions including a 2.0 liter that will produce 167hp and a 3.0 liter that will produce 236hp. Nothing has been officially said for the U.S. as of yet, but we expect the base model to start off with a 3.0 TFSI 4-cylinder unit followed by a ranger-topper 3.2 V6.

The first public introduction of the Audi Q5 is scheduled for the 2008 Geneva Motor Show in March. Deliveries will start in Germany in the third quarter of 2008. The U.S. will get their offering in early 2009.

Photo Renderings: Audi Q5:

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