The 2016 Paris Auto Show brought a slew of impressive new and revised models, not the least of which is the 2017 Audi Q5. It features an all-new look, a welcomed interior update that continues Audi’s current design theme, and upgraded mechanicals, including powertrains, suspension, and structural components. The Q5 is also larger in every dimension, giving it more interior space and better handling. The Q5 was launched in 2008 to compete against the BMW X3, which the Bavarian company introduced as early as 2003. It received a facelift in 2012, but has largely gone unchanged. The Q5 is now based on the MLB platform shared with the A4 and Q7. This means it uses high-strength steel and large amounts of aluminum to add strength while cutting weight. In fact, Audi says the 2017 Q5 is 198 pounds lighter than the last generation, despite its larger size. Making the most of that weight reduction are five upgraded powertrains that include four TDI engines and a single TFSI gasoline mill.
Since its launch in 2009, the Panamera Gran Turismo has successfully expanded the appeal of the Porsche marque into the executive saloon segment. Now, a new chapter in the development of the four door, four seater sports car opens with the unveiling of the second generation Panamera, led by the world’s first plug-in hybrid in the class. The innovative Panamera S E-Hybrid offers combined system power of 416 hp and extends further the breadth of sportiness and comfort that characterises the model line. The new Panamera underscores its exceptional positioning with a more expressive exterior design language signified by tighter lines, more pronounced contours and newly-shaped body elements. Overall, the new generation car is more efficient, sporting, comfortable and elegant and celebrates its world premiere at Auto China in Shanghai on 21 April. The Panamera S E-Hybrid is a systematically advanced development of the proven Porsche parallel full hybrid, with a more powerful electric motor, a higher-performance battery that supplies more energy and the ability to be recharged externally from the electrical grid. The electric drive produces 95 hp (70 kW), which is more than double the power of the previous model’s 47 hp (34 kW) electric motor.
It draws energy from a new lithium-ion battery, which at 9.4 kWh has over five times the 1.7 kWh energy capacity of the previous (nickel metal hydride) battery technology. With its increased output, the Panamera S E-Hybrid far exceeds the driving performance of the previous model. In addition, the NEDC fuel economy has increased by 56 per cent to 91 mpg, which equates to emissions of 71 g/km CO2. Furthermore, the all-electric driving performance has been substantially improved with regard to electric acceleration, the electric range and electric top speed. An intensive pure electric driving experience is possible without any fuel consumption or local emissions, which is especially advantageous in the urban environment. The electric driving range of the Panamera S E-Hybrid has been determined as 22 miles (36 km) in NEDC-based testing. Driving range may vary in everyday operation, since air conditioning and heating are deactivated in NEDC test conditions, for example. A realistic all-electric driving range in everyday operation would lie somewhere between 11-22 miles - and under particularly favourable conditions it could even exceed this.
The Panamera S E-Hybrid can reach speeds of up to 84 mph in all-electric operation, and the acceleration time from 0-62 mph has been shortened by half a second to 5.5 seconds. The electric boost function helps here, in which the performance of the electric motor aids that of the combustion engine. Boosting can also be activated by kick-down - such as when overtaking. The car’s overall top speed is 168 mph. The parallel full hybrid concept developed by Porsche also offers ‘coasting’ at higher speeds, which refers to free coasting with the internal combustion engine shut off and generating electricity by energy recovery. The forward-looking concept of the Panamera S E-Hybrid also embodies an entirely new range of convenience functions, which can also be activated and called up by a smart phone ‘app’. There is the charge status indicator, for example. In addition, the auxiliary climate control option of the plug-in hybrid enables car pre-heating or cooling via Porsche Car Connect; it can be programmed in the vehicle or even more conveniently via the smart phone app.
