What's this then?
This is possibly the ultimate Q-car, and not just because it's based on the Audi Q5. The SQ5 has been delivering stonking high-performance diesel motoring to the Q5 range for some time now, but Audi has decided it's time to plus it all up a bit. So, this is the SQ5 Plus, which gets a twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 TDI engine developing 340hp and 700Nm of torque. That's good enough to give it a 5.1-second 0-62mph sprint time and a top speed electronically limited to 155mph. Even with all that storming performance, Audi says you should still be able to squeeze better than 40mpg out of it, and it has CO2 emissions of 175g/km.
Inside, there are Nappa leather seats with quilted stitching, while the outside gets a gloss black finish for details such as the door handles, roof rails and more. It also comes with 21-inch cast aluminium wheels in five twin-spoke star design from Audi Sport with 255/40 R21 tyres. Audi has also, through quattro GmbH, put together the special equipment package "Audi exclusive selection macaw blue", which is limited to 100 units, for the SQ5 TDI Plus. The body is painted in the customised colour macaw blue, crystal effect and the interior comes with sport seats in black fine Nappa leather. Matching the exterior colour, the macaw blue contrasting stitching on the seats, the steering wheel, the selector lever gaiter and the floor mats provides colourful highlights. The inlays in aluminium/Beaufort, black, round out the overall concept.
Don't expect it to be cheap. A standard SQ5 is already a £45,000 car and this one will probably break the £55k barrier.
Neil Briscoe - 4 Sep 2015