Environmental monster - Audi Q5 Hybrid quattro
Hybrid technology - some see it as the future of the automotive world, others see it as a terrorist plot by environmentalists. It is true that there are cars on the market that drive no better than the regular versions. They are heavy, difficult to maintain, cost a lot of money, and all this suffering is only to make them burn a little less fuel. Audi said it was time to change that.
Bernd Huber is 39 years old, trained as an auto mechanic and holds a degree in mechanical engineering. However, he does not work in the workshop. He was commissioned by Audi to create a car that would retain its good performance with the brand's signature hint of pepper, while at the same time setting new standards for hybrid vehicles. Not only that, this car should also work exclusively on an electric motor and become the basis for other models of the brand. The manufacturer put the Q5 quattro in front of Huber and told him to do something with it. What can I say, we did it.
Bernd said the biggest challenge was fitting all of this advanced technology into the body of the Q5. And it was not only about installing a second motor and extra kilometers of cables, because anyone could do it. The user of this car was simply not in the mood to experience for himself what could be cramped in the car. The same applies to performance - the Q5 hybrid was supposed to drive, not try to move and let riders overtake. Then how did everything go so smoothly?
The battery system is very compact and fits easily under the boot floor. But what about its capacity? The point is, she hasn't changed. Like the interior, the electrical unit was hidden by a tiptronic automatic transmission. And how to determine that the Q5 that just stood next to it in the parking lot is a hybrid? After all, nothing. The most striking feature is the huge 19-inch rims with a pattern designed specifically for the hybrid version. In addition to these, you can find discreet emblems on the rear and side of the car - and that's about it. To see the rest of the changes, you need to get the keys for Q5 and go inside. However, there is not much difference here either. The thresholds are new, there is an indicator on the instrument panel that informs about the operation of the entire system, and the MMI system also visualizes the flow of energy. However, the real change can be felt when this car moves.
A hybrid car that drives like a sports car? Why not! And all thanks to a well-thought-out drive. The supercharged petrol unit has a volume of 2.0 liters and reaches 211 km. It is further supported by an electric motor that delivers another 54 hp. It's enough to break the stereotype of boring, eco-friendly cars, especially when you select the boost driving mode. 7.1 s to “hundreds”, a maximum of 222 km / h and only 5,9 s when accelerating from 80 to 120 km / h in fifth gear. These numbers are really impressive. But this car is also very different.
After pressing the "EV" button, environmentalists begin to celebrate, and the car can accelerate to 100 km / h only on the electric motor. At an average speed of 60 km/h, its range will be 3 km, so in any case it will be enough to overcome the shortest distances in small towns. However, the possibilities of the system do not end there - the "D" mode allows the most economical use of both engines, and "S" will appeal to sports fans and manual gear enthusiasts. Okay, what exactly claims this car, sports car performance or low fuel consumption? Everything is simple - for everything. It is estimated that the Q5 Hybrid quattro consumes an average of 7 liters of fuel per 100 km, and with such opportunities on the road, this result is almost unattainable for conventional cars. That's the point - to show that a hybrid does not have to be the worst version of its prototype, which only burns less. She could be better. Much better. And perhaps this is the future of this disc.
