Indian Autos blog

IndianAutosBlog.com is fresh off the BMW X3 press conference in Pune, where BMW launched its brand new compact luxury SUV at a whopping price of 41.2 lakhs. The BMW X3 already has enough contenders such Audi’s Q5, Landrover Freelander 2, Volvo XC60.

But a new challenger is taking birth on the hills of Nürburgring – It’s the Porsche Cajun. This baby Cayenne will mark the Porsche brand’s first entry in the compact luxury SUV segment.

According to the images reported by Autoblog.com, Porsche has already started testing the Cajun platform on the Ring. Right now, it is using the Audi Q5 body as a test mule. More proof comes in the form of number plates which are marked LB (Ludwigsburg). If it was actually an Audi, it would have been IN (Ingoldstadt).

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Audi has introduced the Q5 2.0 TDI quattro in India which becomes the entry-level variant in the Q5 lineup. Priced at Rs. 39.05 lakh rupees (ex-showroom Maharashtra), deliveries of the econo-Audi will begin in April.

The 2.0 TDI engine produces 170 bhp and twist force of 350 Nm @ 1,750 rpm. It is mated to a 7–speed automatic S Tronic transmission.

So what’s gone missing on this sub-40 lakh rupee Audi?

1) Camera-assisted reverse guide

2) Sunroof

3) Screens on the rear seat

4) MMI (multimedia interface)

5) Paddle shifters

6) 2 cylinders – this is a 4-cylinder variant as opposed to the regular 3.0 V6 TDI

Audi India has began assembling its compact SUV Q5 in India. Audi has been assembling the Audi A4 and A6 luxury saloons in India and the Q5 is the third model that Audi is assembling in India.

The Audi Q5 main selling point is its classy styling and sporty stance. The Q5 is a perfect alternative to the executive luxury saloons like the Mercedes Benz E-Class and the BMW 5-Series and even stablemate Audi A6.

Frank Dreves, Board Member (Production), Audi India -

The production of the Q5 is part of our long-term growth strategy in India. The Indian market for automobiles will grow very rapidly, and the Q5 is the right automobile at the right time.

The Audi Q5 is doing extremely well in the luxury car market with relatively no competition. The BMW X3 is completely outdated, the Volvo XC90 is very pale and lacks prestige, Land Rover Discovery and Freelander are relatively unknown and Mercedes Benz doesn’t even have a Q5 rival.

Audi sensed the opportunity and has began local production of the Q5 at a very crucial time. With this Audi would be able to cater to the needs of luxury car buyers faster and the costs of the car could come down and hence boosting sales ultimately. The Volvo XC60 which we spied recently at an Indian dealership could pose a minor threat to the Q5 when launched.

The Audi Q5 is also pulling customers from the Mercedes Benz E-Class and the BMW 5-Series. Customers would buy the Audi Q5 over the new E90 BMW 5-Series which has a waiting period of nearly 3 months.

The Audi Q5 comes with 2 engine options, a 2.0 TFSI petrol and a 3.0 TDI diesel. All Q5s come with Quattro all wheel drive. Audi is also planning to offer more powerful and efficient engines for the Q5 in future.

The company is planning to bring the latest Audi A8 super luxury saloon to India by the end of this year. The Audi A8 would rival the Mercedes Benz S-Class and the BMW 7-Series.

Audi is currently offering 7 models in India, the A4, A6, old A8, Q5, Q7, TT Coupe and the R8 supercar.

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Spied parked inside a building right here in India is the soon-to-be launched Volvo XC60 compact crossover SUV in RHD form, spied for the first time in India. The vehicle is to be launched in India by the end of this year and will go to head-to-head with rivals such as the BMW X3 and Audi Q5.

The car in the images is the D5 diesel variant, which has a 2.4-litre, twin-turbocharged diesel engine pumping out 205 PS of max power and 420 Nm of max torque. The car is also available with a 3.2-litre Naturally Aspirated petrol motor as well as a 3.0-litre turbocharged, six-cylinder petrol engine (T6). The car in the images also has a temporary Haryana registration plate.

The Volvo XC60 is based on the Volvo Y20 platform and is made at the Volvo plant in Ghent, Belgium. The car will be imported into India as a Completely Built Unit (CBU) and will be priced around the 40-lakh mark. The car could also be offered in a front-wheel drive version.

Thanks to our anonymous reader for sending us the first pictures of the Volvo XC60. You know who you are, and you must know we’re grateful to you!

Will Audi assemble Q5 hybrids in India this year?

Audi has confirmed that it will be launching the hybrid model of the Q5 SUV by the end of 2010. This announcement is of interest to us since Audi will be assembling the Q5 in India from March onwards.

Could Audi assemble the hybrid SUV in India? It definitely is a possibility.

The hybrid vehicle will probably be powered by the 3.2-litre V6 petrol engine, a pair of electric motors within the gearbox and a lithium-ion battery pack placed near the rear axle.

The price and specifications are expected in the coming months. Visually, the Q5 hybrid is expected to be no different.

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German luxury car maker Audi will start assembling its Q5 SUV in India by March 2010. The German company is expecting a big boost in sales as the vehicle’s price tag is expected to come down.

The company will use the Aurangabad facility where it assembles the A4 and A6 at present. A new line will be setup which would have an annual capacity of 500 Q5s per year.

Audi India Managing Director Benoit Tiers -

“We have already sold 1,128 units this year. If everything goes well, I hope and we have a good chance to sell 1,700-1,800 cars in 2009, which will be an increase of about 70 per cent.”

Audi India launched the Q5 here in Mumbai this afternoon. This sporty SUV is the smaller sibling to the mighty Q7, recognizable by the similar tough-and-tidy looks. The launch function was conducted at the Audi lounge at India Bulls and Managing Director of Audi India Mr Benoit Tiers, donning an elegant suit with a sparkling red tie presided over the event.

The prices for the Q5 are quite attractive starting at INR 3,829,000 for the 2.0 TSI (petrol) and 4,419,000 for the 3.0 TDI (diesel). This vehicle would be available in five vibrant colors

Audi expects to sell 100 Units of the CBU this year which should not be a difficult task after seeing its multi-fold growth pattern from the time of its arrival in India.

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German luxury car maker Audi today launched its new Q5 SUV in the form of two variants – 2.0 TFSI (petrol) and 3.0 TDI (diesel).

Voted the Best Off-Roader in Europe by Auto Motor und Sport and awarded the Golden Steering Wheel in Germany, the Audi Q5 shares its architecture with the VW Touareg and its underpinnings are based on the A4 sedan. Hence, it combines a sports sedan with a quattro permanent all-wheel drive.

The Q5′s large single-frame grill dominates the car’s front-end, the headlamps have xenon plus bulbs and LED running lights as standard, and the rear lights also feature LED technology.

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