Best-selling motor bought by over 300,000 drivers last year unveiled with new look… & will be hybrid-only

A NEW look has been been unveiled for one of the world's best selling cars which will now only be available as a hybrid.

The SUV was one of the top 50 best selling cars globally in 2023, and you can expect its flashy new design to arrive in showrooms from March.

The Audi Q5 is the German carmaker's best seller and made up 17% (334,480) of their global sales last year.

The new design for the vehicle will be used to anchor the brand as it shifts away from combustion engines and towards electric vehicles, .

Unlike Audi's new A5 saloon and A5 Avant estate, the third-generation Audi Q5 will not be offered with a pure combustion engine.

Instead, the new Q5 will consist of a range of hybrids, two petrol and one diesel, before a plug-in hybrid is added to the mix eventually.

The entry level model features a 2.0-litre turbo petrol that provides 201bhp through the front wheels.

Four-wheel drive is also offered as an option.

While the diesel matches this for capacity and power output, it possesses a 44lb ft torque advantage and four-wheel drive as standard.

The top of the range SQ5 has swapped its diesel power for an all-new mild-hybrid 3.0-litre turbo petrol V6 with 362bhp – an increase of 20bhp. 

In addition to these, two plug-in hybrids, with 295bhp and 362bhp plus electric-only ranges of around 50 miles, will follow next year.

Audi’s renewed investment in hybrid systems has been noted down to the transition to electric cars taking longer than had initially been expected.

Since the luxury car manufacturer still plans to phase out combustion engines entirely in eight years, the third generation of Q5 will be the last non-electric Q5.

The carmaker has also committed to offering a hybrid option in each segment until then.

Audi CEO Gernot Döllner said: “We recognised early on that plug-in hybrids were a relevant project technology, and now we see that the bridge is longer than we initially thought.”

Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) is what underpins the Q5.

Its electrical architecture represents a significant upgrade on the old Q5, with the wiring system being completely overhauled and now five computers on board the new model.

This provides Audi with more flexibility to offer hybrids with different configurations as well as opens the door to key future upgrades.

Audi says the new platform also brings improvements to both ride comfort and handling.

The new Q5 comes fitted with steel springs and passive dampers as standard, while air suspension is also available as an option.

On top of the technical improvements, the Q5 features an upgraded and more modern interior.

It follows the A5 and the Q6 in adopting Audi’s new ‘Digital Stage’ set-up: a free-standing OLED panel that comprises an 11.9in digital instrument display and a 14.5in infotainment touchscreen.

There's also the option for a 10.9in touchscreen for the front passenger.

While UK pricing has yet to be announced, in mainland Europe the entry-level petrol car is €52,300 (£44,300) and the diesel is €57,100 (£48,400), while the SQ5 is €82,900 (£70,200).