Audi Q5

This article is only available in french. La catégorie des VUS compact de luxe est en plein effervescence. Les BMW X3 et Land Rover Freelander ont fait cavalier seul pendant quelques dans ce segment, mais l’arrivée récente de véhicules comme l’Acura RDX et l’Infiniti EX est venue changer les choses. Sous peu, Volvo introduira aussi son deuxième utilitaire sport, le XC60. Et voilà qu’Audi vient tout juste de dévoiler officiellement son nouveau joueur dans ce segment, le Q5.D’abord lancé en Europe, le Q5 sera offert là-bas avec un choix de trois motorisations. Deux d’entre-elles seront des diesel, tandis que l’autre, à essence, nous sera le seul destiné. Il s’agit d’un V6 de 3,2 litres FSI développant 265 chevaux et 243 lb-pi de couple. Ce moteur sera accompagné d’une boîte automatique Tiptronic à changement rapide ainsi que du système de traction intégrale Quattro à prise permanente. Notons que ce système permet d’offrir jusqu’à 85% du couple aux roues arrière, mais aussi jusqu’à 65% vers l’avant.

Avec le Q5, Audi n’entend pas offrir un véhicule d’entrée de gamme. Le niveau de luxe et de caractéristiques de série promet donc d’être relevé, comme en fait foi le communiqué de presse. On parle ici d’un système d’accès et de démarrage sans clé, de la climatisation automatique à trois zones, de la sellerie de cuir avec assise chauffante et d’une chaîne audio à huit haut-parleurs. Le Q5 sera aussi le premier véhicule à adopter la troisième évolution du système d’interface MMI.

Bien sûr, le prix du Q5 n’a pas encore été dévoilé. Le véhicule devrait fait son apparition en Amérique du Nord d’ici environ un an.

Volvo wants a piece of Mini

Volvo ventured into the 3-door hatchback segment with the introduction of the C30 at the 2006 Paris Auto Show.

“The new C30 is designed to appeal to young singles or couples with an intense urban lifestyle,” says Lex Kerssemakers, Senior Vice President, Brand, Business and Product Strategy at Volvo Cars. “We’ve found that this group of people will prioritize excitement in design and driving characteristics, and this car will suit their taste and lifestyle.”

“These are customers who move between their homes, the office, meetings, the gym and to their favourite spots around town at a fast pace and, for the most part, there are not more than two people in the car,” explains H åkan Abrahamsson, Project Director for the C30 project.

Volvo says the C30 target customers view their vehicles as tools to help them keep up their intense lives. When they buy clothing, home furnishings or electronic devices, design and brand are very important factors – and they choose cars in the same way.

“One of the participants said: ‘Finally, a new, exciting challenger in the segment, probably my first Volvo‘,” says Abrahamsson. “It was the perfect expression of our ambitions for the C30 project – we must win new customers to make the C30 an important part of Volvo Cars’ goal of selling 600,000 vehicles per year.”

The design of the production model is reminiscent of the Volvo C30 Design Concept shown at the 2006 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The front retains the concept car’s dynamic character, with angled headlamps and a low, wide grille.

The sloping roof gives the new C30 a fast profile, with an optional roof spoiler furthering the sporty look. The rear haunches are powerfully rounded, creating a kind of boattail appearance when viewed from the rear.

Volvo developed a body kit with colours that either co-ordinate with the body panels or provide a two-tone look, so customers can personalize their cars. To further personalize the car, the body kit can be combined with a lowered ‘sport‘ chassis, 18-inch wheels and larger exhaust pipes.

Canadian C30s come in two models: the 2.4i is powered by a 168-hp 2.4-litre naturally aspirated DOHC 20-valve 5-cylinder engine mated to either a 5-speed manual or 5-speed sequentially-shifted automatic. The T5 version comes with a turbocharged 218-hp 2.5-litre DOHC 20V inline-5 mated to either a 6-speed manual or the 5-speed auto.

The ergonomically designed front seats slide forward easily to allow access to the split-folding rear bench that features two separate seating positions and a foldable armrest. The glass tailgate is reportedly easy to open and close and allows good access to the cargo compartment. A cargo cover is available for added security.

The interior can be personalized with a choice of faces for Volvo’s signature floating centre stack and a choice of black or two-tone design motif. Other styling items include a sport steering wheel, sport shift knob with aluminium inlays, brushed aluminium pedals and unique C30 mats.

And because it’s a Volvo, C30 safety is entrusted to dual-stage airbags, side-impact airbags and full-side inflatable air-curtain. Volvo’s unique Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS) has been installed on the front seats to reducing the risk of neck and soft tissue injuries in rear-end collisions.

Volvo expects to sell 65,000 C30s per year, with 75 per cent of the buyers living in Europe. Production is slated for the end of 2006 with sales in Canada set for February 2007.

“I am convinced that the new C30 will be a great success,” says Kerssemakers. “Since we displayed the concept car in Detroit, it has become one of the market’s most talked about and eagerly awaited cars.”