KUALA LUMPUR: After Audi Q3 and e-tron Sportback, the German automaker has added one another model, the Q5 Sportback, in its growing coupe-SUV line-up. Set to rival BMW X4 and Mercedes GLC Coupe, the latest iteration is pretty much similar to the crossover, but with a more dynamic look and some equipment changes.

Also read: 2021 Audi Q5 breaks cover with sharper styling, more power, and more tech

The most significant change between the 2021 Audi Q5 Sportback and the standard Q5 is obviously the sloping roofline. The Sportback’s top gently slopes toward the back and gives the rear end a dramatic profile with a more inclined screen and a distinctive tailgate.

The front Singleframe grille comes with slightly different plastic mesh beneath the matrix LED headlamps that have been tweaked, too. The new Q5 Sportback also gets the OLED lighting technology, which makes the headlamps and brake lamps brighter and more efficient. Audi also ditched the Q5’s standard roof rails and added an oversized rear diffuser and unique contrast colour trims to the model.

Inside, the Sportback’s two-section dashboard is identical to the standard Q5 and boasts a floating 10.1-inch MMI display powered by the MIB 3 infotainment system, a 12.3-inch Audi Virtual Cockpit Plus, MMI Navigation Plus, and Audi connect internet connectivity.

Other tech goodies comprise a Bang & Olufsen audio system with 19 speakers, a head-up display, Audi Phone Box wireless handset charging, and a bundle of advanced driver assistance features, including adaptive cruise control and lane centering assist.

Coming to the mechanical setup, the 2021 Q5 Sportback gets power from the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine generating 261 horsepower and 370 Nm of peak torque found in the Q5. Another engine on offer will be a 3.0-litre six-cylinder with 349 horsepower and 500 Nm, borrowed from the SQ5. The 2.0-litre unit will be coupled with a 7-speed automatic transmission and the 3.0-litre will get an 8-speed automatic, both routing power to all four wheels with Audi’s Quattro system. Although, Audi will not offer the Sportback model with the plug-in hybrid powertrain.

About the Q5 Sportback price, Audi has not yet made any comment, but we can expect a premium over the standard Q5’s starting price tag of $43,300 (RM 180,603). The model is slated to hit the U.S., Europe, and other markets in the first half of 2021.

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