Audi South Africa plans to add three new vehicles to its catalog over the course of the year, continuing its product launch strategy that began with Q3 last month.
Brand expansion plan on the continent
These 2026 additions are part of a broad portfolio renewal that began the previous year and will be followed by another eight launches in 2027, including the eagerly awaited Q9 and RS6, which have not yet been revealed.
Details of the highly anticipated Q5 SUV
The first of the models planned for this year is the completely redesigned Q5, which will have its world premiere in September 2024.
Positioned above the Q3, the Q5 will only be available in the traditional SUV version, marking Audi’s decision not to produce the Sportback variant for the next generation.
Built on the updated MQB platform, now called PPC (Premium Platform Combustion), the Q5 is expected to share the same trim levels as the Q3, such as base, Advanced, S line and S line Black.
Although it has not been explicitly confirmed, the high-performance model SQ5 is a possibility for the line, and could become the new flagship of the series.
With a similar exterior design to the Q3, the Q5 will adopt the interior that was introduced locally in the A5 last year.
This means the model will come with the same steering wheel, 11.9-inch Virtual Cockpit screen, 14.5-inch MMI infotainment system and an optional 10.9-inch MMI passenger screen.
Other expected features include Matrix LED headlights, a 16-speaker, 685-watt Bang and Olufsen sound system, plus a vastly improved suite of safety and driver assistance systems.
Audi’s South African subsidiary has not released details about engine options, probably due to the country’s fuel quality, which is still less refined compared to European standards, a crucial factor in adapting the vehicles to the local market.
This could indicate that the Q5 will maintain the same engine alternatives as the previous generation, rather than incorporating the latest technologies used in Europe.
In this scenario, the choices would be between a 2.0 TFSI with 183 kW/370 Nm and a 2.0 TDI with 140 kW/400 Nm, both coupled to a seven-speed S tronic transmission.
Unlike the Q3, the quattro all-wheel drive system is expected to be a standard feature on the Q5, regardless of the engine chosen.
If approved, the SQ5 would top the range with a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 TFSI engine, delivering 270 kW and 550 Nm of torque.
With the Q3 currently being discontinued, prices range between R1,018,200 and R1,331,400, indicating that the new generation Q5 is expected to command a significantly higher value.
The new RS5: more power and electrification
Next on the list is the fully revamped RS5, which will follow in the footsteps of the A5 on which it is based, transforming into a sedan and ditching the coupe and four-door Sportback body styles.
At the same time, the Avant version will also be offered, serving as a replacement for the RS4 Avant.
Presented in February this year, the RS5 maintains the V6 2.9 TFSI engine, but now incorporates a plug-in hybrid electrification system.
While the torque of the combustion engine remains limited to 600 Nm, power has been increased from 331 kW to 375 kW.
The electrical component consists of a 25.5 kWh battery that powers a single 130 kW/400 Nm electric motor, installed on the rear axle.
This configuration, first mentioned in 2019, allows the RS5 to achieve a combined power of 470 kW/825 Nm, resulting in a top speed of 250 km/h or 285 km/h, and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.6 seconds.
Equipped with an eight-speed Tiptronic transmission, the RS5 offers a range of 87 km in pure electric mode, in addition to having a new limited-slip differential and a torque vectoring system.
Performance variant of the RS e-tron GT arrives to order
To complete the expansion of the range, the restyled version of the RS e-tron GT, which was launched on the European market two years ago, will arrive.
In South Africa, however, only the Performance variant will be sold, and exclusively to order.
As a sister model to the Porsche Taycan, the e-tron stands out not only for its new battery and exterior design, but also for incorporating components from the new PPE (Premium Platform Electric) architecture.
Maintaining the previous configuration, the vehicle has two electric motors, now powered by a 97 kWh battery. In the Performance version, this translates into 680 kW of power, a top speed of 250 km/h and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.5 seconds.
The larger capacity battery allows the RS e-tron GT to charge quickly with direct current (DC) of up to 320 kW, requiring just 18 minutes to go from 0 to 80% charge.
Like the other models, the prices of the RS e-tron GT Performance will only be released on a date closer to its official launch.
