- New generation of Audi Q5 arrives soon
- Crossover to ride on Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) architecture
- Production for U.S. market likely to stay in Mexico
A redesigned Audi Q5 debuts shortly, and camouflaged prototypes have been out and about for a while.
The latest prototype to be sighted is for the coupe-like Sportback body style which should trail the regular Q5 by about six months to a year.
The regular Q5 should start sales next spring or early next summer, likely as a 2026 model for the U.S. The Q5 Sportback should follow it into showrooms toward the end of next year, likely also as a 2026 model.
The vehicles are mechanically similar to the redesigned A5 hatchback that debuted in July as the replacement for the A4. The A4 nameplate is gone for now but should return in the future on an E-Tron electric sedan. The shakeup is part of Audi's naming strategy to use even numbers for EV models and odd numbers for models still equipped with a gas engine.
2026 Audi Q5 Sportback spy shots - Photo via Baldauf
The new Q5 rides on a platform known as the Premium Platform Combustion (PPC), which debuted in the new A5. The powertrains should also be common across both vehicles. This means a 2.0-liter turbo-4 in the Q5 and a 362-hp turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 in the SQ5. The sole transmission should be a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic, and all-wheel drive will also likely be standard in the U.S., which is the case for the current generation.
For the interior, the design will likely be the same as what Audi uses in the A5, meaning a curved panel angled toward the driver and integrating an 11.9-inch digital gauge cluster and a 14.5-inch for the Android-based infotainment system.
Production of the Q5 for North America is currently handled at Audi's plant in Mexico. This should also be the case for the new generation.
Stay tuned for updates as development continues.
