afretes
07-21-2005, 12:16 PM
INGOLSTADT, Germany â€" Audi has revised the design of its planned next-generation allroad quattro, so the car will be better equipped to challenge the BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz's planned X-Class.
The car is likely to lose the allroad name in favor of Q5 â€" bringing it in line with the planned Q7 SUV, Audi's BMW X5 rival which is due next year.
The Q5 will be a "soft-roader," but it will be more of an SUV than the previous allroad quattro. Significantly, it's based on the A4 wagon, rather than the A6 that formed the basis for both the original allroad and the new allroad concept revealed at the Detroit auto show in January. It will feature the latest evolution of Audi's quattro all-wheel-drive system.
It could be launched as early as this September's Frankfurt show as a concept car, alongside the production Q7, though the finished Q5 won't be ready till 2007.
What this means to you: BMW's X3 may be based on the 3 Series, but it looks like an SUV. Audi has realized a beefed-up wagon like the allroad just won't do, and has revised its proposals to stay competitive.
The car is likely to lose the allroad name in favor of Q5 â€" bringing it in line with the planned Q7 SUV, Audi's BMW X5 rival which is due next year.
The Q5 will be a "soft-roader," but it will be more of an SUV than the previous allroad quattro. Significantly, it's based on the A4 wagon, rather than the A6 that formed the basis for both the original allroad and the new allroad concept revealed at the Detroit auto show in January. It will feature the latest evolution of Audi's quattro all-wheel-drive system.
It could be launched as early as this September's Frankfurt show as a concept car, alongside the production Q7, though the finished Q5 won't be ready till 2007.
What this means to you: BMW's X3 may be based on the 3 Series, but it looks like an SUV. Audi has realized a beefed-up wagon like the allroad just won't do, and has revised its proposals to stay competitive.