Very disappointed at design of Q5. I hope it looks better in real life, because it's just plain boring. Who designed this dog?

I can't believe AoA did it again. Actually, yes I can. These guys just don't want to succeed in the US.

You want to sell a lot of Q5's in the US? Send over the 2.0 TDI with a 6 MT stripped down to the least expensive price you can get. Advertise it as the best small MPG in it's class. With fuel at $4.00+/gallon, they'll sell better than the V6 gas model.

Has anyone heard if the X3 is going to get the diesel anytime soon? I know that the production is shifting to Spartanburg from Graz. BMW is adding 1.2 million square feet to the plant and hiring 500 people.

Note to AoA: No diesel, no sale!

f**k audi waited for so long so i could see this car and no diesel and no 7 speed s-tronic we really get some garbage model's here in the state's, im realy pissed off i might switch car company's, after all my year's of loyalty too this brand, might buy the diesel bmw also.

The looks of a vehicle (especially when all we have is a few photographs) is soooo subjective. To me, the Q5 looks 200% less "boring" than the dated X3 and X5 and the hideous Subaru-clone Mercedes GLK.

Factor in that you get vinyl upholstery and cheap flimsy plastic everywhere on these entry level Bimmers and Mercs and the Audi looks even better. You don't like it; I do; choice is good.

you get the cars for half price, you get to see them pre production and then you want to punish the company for what? because YOUR own regulations keeping the TDI away.
I can understand your frustration but that goes with the internet see it all now get it all now world we live in.
Remember your Dollar is going down due to your own activity and that is acting against imports. You just cant have it both ways. I mean, how upset can you expect Audi to be if they are not going to make any money out of you anyway?
Audi say they want a bigger share of the US market so perhaps when US production gets underway that might help you both out.
BTW its not ugly you just havent got used to looking at it yet.
I dont mean any of this as a personal critisism and in a way Audi should have seen your reaction coming. I think if they are serious about breaking into the future US market they need to give a little and push the dates but I suspect they are to busy licking Chinese boots right now.

which I've always thought looked like a cheap economy car unworthy of the BMW badge. The Q5 is not out for awhile so there is still time for an introduction of an S Line or a new hybrid engine. They REALLY need to spice this car up though if they want it to come out with a bang and make some waves.

shape of the vehicle in person, but I was expecting to see the A5/S5 of the small SUV class. I wasn't excited by the pictures of the Q5 as I was with the first pictures of the A5/S5.

As far as BMW goes, I've driven the newest X3 at a BMW X3 drivers event. I was very impressed by the vehicle. The shape is about exciting as the Q5 and yes, the interior is not up to an Audi's, but it would suffice.

A friend bought the X3 because he wanted a MT that the Q5 won't offer. By the way, he's 65 and will only drive a MT. Was a SAAB guy all of his life, and only left because he was forced to. SAAB did away with the hatch back, so he went to the BMW X3. So far, about a year now, he and his wife love the vehicle. She drives a B7 2.0T MT. Who said seniors can't be fun? ;-)

were afraid that it would've cannibalized its' A4. Were they right? Yes, but, they could've used that price point vehicle to have some conquest sales from other makes, namely Subaru.

When I was in the business, we saw a good number of Subaru owners move "up to an Audi." They wanted the added luxuries of Audi, but didn't want to give up their AWD. I think Audi "missed the bus" on that decision. Just my $0.02 worth.

I'm sure you know a lot more than than the professionals Audi has put in to place for product planning. I would imagine that they are trying to figure out how to get the diesel available for you right now.
"Note to AoA: No diesel, no sale!" LOL

I had one, it wasn't a quattro but it definitely was a 2.0T.

people are getting great gas mileage with it. Same with the 3.2. A6 people are getting over 30 on the highway!

However, if the TDI, in 2.0T came around, then it will sell like hotcakes!

..like introducing its SUV a whole ten years after its other German rivals, and at the start of a major gasoline price hike. Pure genius.

Do a little research and you'll find that the Q7 is selling better than Audi forecasted before it's introduction. You have to remember that Audi is a business and they have to do what make since for them globally. If selling the car you want them to sell you doesn't make them money they aren't going to do it.

I'm not sure how long you have been following the Audi brand, but they were near extinction in this country the middle of the last decade. So I my self think that somebody has done a good job from a business stand point. There are Audi's everywhere I go now a days. Seeing an Audi in Las Vegas in 1995 was about as rare as seeing a Ferrari.

So in the end I guess you are right, they are geniuses. If I could expand my business as much they have in the last ten years I would be feeling pretty good about myself.

last trip to Greenville. BMW factory is right down the road from the airport.

I can say that the X6 will get your attention. Now, whether people like it or not, well, that's their individual opinion.

The Q5 doesn't have the same wow factor. I thought Audi would try and go for that in the Q5.

The S5 is that kind of car - it makes you stop and look. I've watched people come up to the car and say, "This is an Audi? Wow, this this is beautiful!"

now they are on the way down.

That's why AoA is importing the TDI into the US. They want to re-ignite Q7 sales again.

As far as research goes, I've owned Audis since 1984 when I bought one of the first 4000S Quattro's in America. I've owned six since that time. I tend to hold on to my cars for a long time. You know, sort of like Germans do in the old country.

Anyway, I was there for the 60 Minutes debacle. AoA acted like the preverbal deer-in-the-headlight. They didn't do enough to attack CBS and their hatched job.

Do you remember Dateline and the Chevy pickup with the rocket engines strapped to the gas tank so that they would explode and catch on fire? What did GM do? They went after NBC with all guns firing. Who won that battle? Yes, GM. NBC and Dateline had to go on TV and apologize for their gaff. The public? Well, they continued to buy Chevy pickups.

Had Audi of America done the same back then, their sales today would be well over 150,000 today.

So, has Audi of America done some right things? Yes. Have they made some big mistakes? Yes.

Are they geniuses? NO! If they had sales equal to BMW in the US, then I would be able to call them geniuses.

Finally, look at Audi of America sales in the US for last year. Without the new model introduction, their sales would've been dramatically down. In other words, the core products sales are down. This worries me, as it should any other Audi enthusiast in the US.

Actually, I am a professional. I have a BSEE and a MBA with an emphasis in marketing and international business.

I work for a German company who's one of VW AG/Audi AG largest supplier. I've been in and around the car business since 1977. I've worked in most of the car plants in America and some in Germany.

I helped to start up the VW plants in PA and WV back in the 70's. I'd love to sit down with you someday and relate to all of the mistakes that were made by VW AG back then. Failure was written all over that deal from the first get-go.

I've owned Audis since 1984, so I know a little bit about the marque and the history of the company here in the US.

Finally, remember that what I say is just my opinion and that's all it is, my opinion. On the other hand, I'm also a long time customer of Audi, and I would hope that they would listen to some of my requests when it comes to products for the US. If they don't, I'm sure others will (i.e. BMW)

Have a great day!

I sat in the X6 at the NYAS. It is an interesting but expensive vehicle. I think it starts above $60k. The rear seats are a joke, suitable only for kids or very short adults. The rear slope gives it that coupe look, but with significant headroom loss.

Rocky, I wasn't comparing the X6 with the Q5. What I was saying is that the X6 is a showstopper in looks. People stop and look. Whether they like it or not, is their choice, but they do stop and look.

The Q5, on the other hand, blends in with the rest of the small SUV's in the market today. I was hoping of a vehicle with more impact, like the S5.

Audi had inferred that the Q5 would have more of a cutting edge style like the S5 has. That's why I brought up the X6.

I agree with you basement of the X6, but think there's enough of a market out there for it to succeed in the market place

significantly alter the looks to give it more style to your liking.

which I've always pictured a soccer mom behind the wheel. Of course the X6 looks a bit sleeker than the two mentioned above but it still fits the crossover description perfectly of not being much of an SUV and not much of a car either. On the opposite side of the spectrum, I like the Q7 because it just looks so mean, especially in S-Line form. It has serious road presence and I hope the Q5 S-Line inherits some of that look. It looks like Audi kept offroad capabilites a thought when building the Q5 which looks good in the video they released.

The SUV segment is feeling the brunt of the downturn mainly because of gas prices and $114 a barrel oil. BMW N.A. reported their light truck sales were down 41% while their Mini division's sales were up 17% for March '08. I would have liked to see the Q5 announced with the TDI option out of the gate but maybe Audi is watching the economic climate and thinking that most potential buyers who are currently in the market for a small luxury SUV would have a difficult time justifying a TDI with a price around $3k+ over the standard engine. That coupled with the $4.30 Diesel at the pumps could really put a damper on the introduction.<ul><li><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/19/j-d-power-and-associates-predict-even-lower-u-s-vehicle-sales/">http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/19/j-d-power-and-associates-predict-even-lower-u-s-vehicle-sales/</a</li></ul>

i secong that the glk is a forester clone.

Besides, the post below mines (B6S4) says you're wrong. He's posting numbers.

Just from personal experience, I RARELY see any Q7's on the road, especially compared to BMW or Mercedes, the market leaders in German luxury SUV's.

Yea, I know all about Audi's history. Check out my AID, it's low and it dates back to 1998. I purchased my first Audi A4 in 1995 when people used to ask me "A-what?" whenever I told them what I drove. In fact, I'm old enough to remember to the unintended acceleration stigma. Today, I have a B6 A4 in my driveway.

Sure, Audi is doing some nice business, but they have a long way to go until they make a noticeable dent in BMW sales. To imply that Audi is flawless and incapable of making bad market decisions is ridiculous. These "genuises" continuously come in 3rd place in the German luxury category in the US. I love the Audi cheerleaders on this forum who get all defensive when somebody criticizes the emperor, Audi, as if it's some sort of "hands off" subject that only Audi executives are qualified to discuss. We're all Audi fans here and we all have our own ideas on how Audi should market their cars.

to see if is a viable alternative to the Q5.

As you can see from the link I posted you are wrong. Audi Q7 sales exceeded expectation when it was released. I haven't got the time to further my research, but I can rememer the initial US sales goal was 16,000 so 20,000 is an increase of 25%.<ul><li><a href="http://www.germancarblog.com/2006/07/audi-q7-production-increased.html">http://www.germancarblog.com/2006/07/audi-q7-production-increased.html</a</li></ul>

Q7 down 33% from same period last year, down 31% YTD.<ul><li><a href="http://www.audiworld.com/news/08/audi-usa-mar08-sales/">click</a></li></ul>

Very few small SUVs offer a manual. That and the in-line six is really smooth and lots of fun to drive. Audi still hasn't figured out that the killer combination for the A3 is 2.0T+Manual+Quattro after several years with the A3 in the US market. I have very low expectations that they'll bring a Q5 in a manual to the States. Oh well...

<center><img src="http://home.comcast.net/~jrdailey/x3ext.jpg"></center><p>too big for my needs and no manual transmission. 'nuf said.

It's interesting how much loathing is heaped on the X3. I've been an Audi fan and driver for years (check out the member ID on here) and I love my X3. It fits my needs perfectly: road trips and the ability to get to my favorite trailheads here in the Pacific Northwest.

James
Seattle, WA

1998 A4 2.8 QTip (loaded)
2006 BMW 330Ci convertible (manual, sport, xenons, etc.)
2006 BMW X3 (manual, sport, premium, xenons, etc.)