Hybrid drive for Q5

Audi’s rollout of new electric and hybrid drive models continues with the introduction of the new Audi Q5 55 TFSI e quattro – adding more than 40km of purely electric drive to the mid-sized SUV.

With a system output of 270kW, the drive concept is made up of a combustion engine and an electric motor with intelligent controller, giving it the fully electric range to cover most day-to-day needs of those living in cities.

Of course for those looking to travel further afield, the 2.0 TFSI engine is on hand, so that all lifestyle demands are catered for.

The 2.0 TFSI produces 185kW and 370Nm of torque, while the permanently excited synchronous  electric motor (PSM) has a peak output of 105kW and peak torque of 350Nm. It and the separating clutch are integrated into the seven-speed S tronic, which uses ultra technology to transfer the drive torque to the quattro drivetrain. In real terms, this equates to a system output of 270kW and total torque of 500Nm from 1250rpm. 

The race from standstill to 100km/h takes just 5.3 seconds, with a top speed of 239km/h (purely electric top speed of 135km/h), but according to the standard for plug-in hybrid vehicles, fuel consumption ranges from 2.1 – 2.4 l/100km and electric range in the WLTP cycle is more than 40 kilometres.

Of course Audi has produced models with hybrid drive before, but there. Q5 55 TFSI e quattro marks the first time quattro all-wheel drive with ultra technology has been used in combination with an electric motor. 

Like the current Audi models using quattro ultra, such as the Audi Q5, the all-wheel drive system’s intelligent control works predictively so that at low loads and when there’s plenty of grip, the transmission of power to the rear wheels is deactivated. 

Although the all-wheel drive is deactivated whenever it is not needed, it remains available at all times – following a three-stage strategy: proactive, predictive and reactive. By networking quattro drive with Audi drive select, drivers can adjust not just the character of the engine, but also the all-wheel-drive properties to suit their individual preferences. 

The  Q5 55 TFSI e quattro is geared for maximum efficiency, with three driving modes to choose from. Hybrid mode, EV and Battery Hold. The Hybrid mode is activated automatically together with route guidance in the navigation system or it can be activated manually using the Mode button. In this mode, the battery charge is optimally distributed over the route to reduce fuel consumption, with primarily electric driving in urban areas and stop-and-go traffic. The system chooses between freewheeling with the engine switched off or coasting recuperation which can recover up to 25kW of power. 

The electric motor is responsible for all light braking up to 0.1 g, i.e. the majority of braking in everyday driving. A maximum of 80kW of electrical energy are generated via braking recuperation at a deceleration of up to 0.2 g. The disc brakes are used for more power deceleration. If route guidance is active in the MMI navigation system, the predictive operating strategy attempts to drive the last urban segment of the route all-electrically and arrive at the destination with the drive battery nearly empty. The control function is based on a large amount of data. These include online traffic information, distance to the destination, the route profile of the chosen route, precise information about immediate surroundings from the navigation data, such as speed limits, types of roads, uphill and downhill slopes and the latest data from the onboard sensors. 

In EV mode, the car is driven purely electrically as long as the driver does not depress the accelerator past a certain point, and in Battery Hold mode, battery capacity is held at the current level. 

The Audi Q5 55 TFSI e quattro comes standard with the Compact charging system plus a Mode 3 cable with Type 2 plug for use at public charging stations. A full charge at a CEE industrial outlet with 400 V/16 A takes just 2.5 hours, while even a 220 V household outlet can charge the lithium-ion battery from empty to fully charged in around six hours.

It’s all about efficiency. Take for example the predictive efficiency assistant (PEA) which adjusts coasting recuperation behaviour to suit different situations. Using predictive route data from the navigation database, it monitors the distance to the vehicle ahead using signals from the camera and radar. Depending on the situation, the system chooses predictively between freewheeling with the engine switched off and coasting recuperation, i.e. the recovery of kinetic energy and its conversion into electrical energy.

When the adaptive cruise control (ACC) is active, the PEA supports the driver by automatically braking and accelerating with the aim of enhancing efficiency and comfort. If the driver is driving without ACC, however, a haptic signal from the active accelerator pedal and a visual signal in the cockpit and head-up display indicate the most appropriate time to step off the accelerator in order to use as much kinetic energy as possible.

At time of writing, no decision had been made on the introduction of the Audi Q5 55 TFSI e quattro to Australia.