The Q5 Sportback is among 20 new or updated Audi models to be introduced in 2020
Audi will launch the new Q5 Sportback later this year, CEO Bram Schott said Thursday at a financial results presentation in Ingolstadt, Germany.
It will be one of 20 new or updated models Audi will launch in 2020, Schott said at his last major presentation as CEO; he will be succeeded by former BMW employee Markus Duessmann as of April 1.
The Sportback designation given to the SUV indicates a roof line that ends in a coupe-like rear end, as opposed to the vertical tailgate typical of conventional SUVs. Audi's first Sportback SUV was the Q3 Sportback, which was introduced last year and sold outside the United States.
The Q5 Sportback's appearance on sale has not been confirmed, but the likelihood that we will see it is quite high since the regular Q5 is assembled in North America, specifically at Audi's plant in San Jose Chiapa, Mexico, where the two vehicles are supposed to share a common platform. It is intended to compete with the BMW X4 and the Mercedes-Benz GLC coupe.
The Q5 Sportback's arrival will coincide with a mid-cycle refresh of the regular Q5 that will change the interior and exterior of the SUV; both Q5 variants are due in 2021.
Audi's other planned new products include the E-Tron GT super sedan, the Q4 E-Tron, the new A3, and a mid-cycle refresh of the Q2 model sold overseas.
Audi also plans to increase the number of plug-in hybrids. In some markets, more than half of Audi's lineup will have a hybrid option.