Turbocharged hatchbacks with big horsepower is becoming all to common in the automotive world, like really common, but you won’t see me complain for one second about that – especially ones that go 0-60 in 5.1 seconds.
For 2018 Audi just debuted the SQ5, it’s there “hot hatch” of the line-up and for this year (why can’t we have the S3 in hatchback form?) The 2018 Audi SQ5 has a new engine, transmission, exterior, interior and suspension. The engine is all-new for this year and it’s a 3.0-liter V6 that makes 354 horsepower, and 369 lb-ft of torque. In order to reasonably control all the power, Audi sends it to all four wheels via Audi’s famous Quattro. If you opt for the sport package you get a trick differential that has brake vectoring on the front axle, and a mechanical limited slip differential on the rear axle – that can send all of it’s torque to either wheels (sound familiar?). New for this year is a five-link front suspension setup, and the big news this year is the addition of sport adaptive air suspension. The sport air suspension can raise, and lower the car a serious 30 mm.
If any of that sounds like a Focus RS, you’d be right. Granted they are two totally different cars, and different audiences – but both have trick all-wheel-drive setups, 350+ horsepower, and fit 5 people and all your luggage comfortably. The major difference between the two? Audi uses an eight-speed transmission, and Ford opts for a six-speed manual (#savethemanuals).
Watch the video below of the new 2018 Audi SQ5 (Available Spring 2017):
