Audi have brought six new models to the 2017 Geneva Motor Show to run four rings round their opposition.
Audi Q8 Sport Concept
The Audi Q8 Concept was previously showcased at the 2017 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) held in Detroit and has now been showcased at Geneva in a more sporty avatar. The new Audi Q8 Sport Concept boasts a claimed world-first combination of a 3.0-litre TFSI six-cylinder engine with a mild hybrid system and an electric-powered compressor. The Q8 Sport Concept develops 350 kW (476 PS) and 700 Nm of torque. The Q8 Sport claims to sprint from a standstill to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds and onwards to a top speed of 275 km/h; incredibly impressive for a car of its proportions. The Q8 Sport Concept boasts a claimed range of 1,200 km which is great for long-distance driving. Compared to the Q8 Concept showcased in Detroit the Sport Concept has half-an-inch of width added to the wheel-arches giving the it a far meaner stance; more points for styling.
Audi RS 5 Coupé
Audi have used the Geneva Motor Show to showcase their new Audi RS 5 Coupé which features an all-new redeveloped 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 TFSI engine which produces 450 PS – the same output from the old RS 5 with the 4.2-litre naturally-aspirated V8. The new RS 5, however, develops 600 Nm of torque – 170 Nm more than its predecessor. The new RS 5 accelerates from 0-100 km/h in a claimed 3.9 seconds and, with the optional RS dynamic package, will go on to a top speed of 280 km/h. The power of the V6 engine flows through an eight-speed tiptronic automatic gearbox with power going to the quattro all-wheel-drive system. The RS 5 boasts a 40:60 distribution of the drive force, biased towards the rear axle. Audi claim the design inspiration for the new Audi RS 5 Coupé came from the iconic 1989 Audi 90 quattro IMSA GTO. On the inside, the new RS 5 gets RS sport seats, a flat-bottomed RS sport steering-wheel and the Audi virtual cockpit. The RS 5 Coupé also features a head-up display and Matrix LED headlamps and several driver assistance features.
Audi RS 5 DTM
Audi Sport have showcased, along with the RS 5 Coupé, the new DTM racing version of the RS 5. The new race car is powered by a 4.0-litre naturally-aspirated V8 engine which produces over 500 PS. Audi have had to make numerous changes to the DTM compared to its predecessor due to regulation changes, the result of which is that the new DTM stands out compared to two previous predecessors in terms of technology and appearance. For the 2017 season, their tyre partner Hankook will be supplying softer tyres that enable faster lap times.
Audi RS 3 Sportback
Audi have presented a new RS 3 Sportback at Geneva, powered by a 2.5-litre five-cylinder TFSI engine similar to the one seen in the stylish Audi TT RS. The power output of the new RS 3 Sportback is 400 PS with 480 Nm of peak torque. Audi claim it will go from a standstill to 100 km/h in just 4.1 seconds. The new RS 3 Sportback showcases its immense strength through its striking Single frame. The new car also features a wider track compared to the base model. The power is sent to all four wheels through a S tronic seven-speed twin-clutch automatic transmission.
Audi SQ5
The European début of the new Audi SQ5 has been made at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show. The car was first previously shown at 2017 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit alongside the Q8 Concept. The new top model of the Q5 line is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 TFSI petrol engine which produces 354 PS and 500 Nm of torque. The new power enables the SUV to launch from a 0 to 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds. The power goes through the quattro permanent all-wheel drive, with the gear changes being managed by an eight-speed tiptronic transmission. The SQ5’s agility is enhanced with the optional sport differential that actively distributes torque between the rear wheels. Optional air suspension allows the driver to adjust the height of the suspension to the specific driving situation.
Audi A5 Sportback g-tron
The new Audi A5 Sportback g-tron is the company’s third model that is powered by compressed natural gas (CNG). The other two models that run on natural gas are the A3 Sportback g-tron and the A4 Avant g-tron. The A5 g-tron is powered by a 2.0-litre TFSI engine which has an output 170 PS and 270 Nm. The car has a claimed range of 500 km when running solely on CNG through its 19 kg tank. With the combined addition of the cars 25-litre petrol tank, the car boasts a claimed range of 950 km.
Story: Sahej Patheja
