Our spy photographer caught this Audi Q5 tester revealing the possibility that the SUV will soon be getting some performance upgrades.
We initially guessed Audi will likely stuff a beefier engine under the hood such as the supercharged 3.0T V6 and call it a day, but a few clues from the spy shots reveal otherwise. Photos of the tester's rear reveal the biggest hint -- quad tip exhausts that are a signature feature of Audi's S cars. And a close up of the driver side front tire reveals 20-inch multi-piece rims and large disc brakes and calipers.
Audi has said in the past that it had no desire to produce an S or RS version of a SUV, but it looks like they might be having a change of heart. If so, the Q5 would be the first Audi SUV to receive the S treatment. As expected, the Q5 tester lacked badges hinting at what's truly under the hood or what it will be called. We predict that it will likely receive the 333 hp supercharged V6 used in other models such as the S4 and based on typical Audi S nomenclature it will should be called the SQ5.
Another, though less likely choice would be a high performance diesel engine, which would be in line with Audi's desire to expand its use of diesel engines here in the United States. Standard Euro-spec Q5s are currently offered with the 2.0 TDI engine, so Audi would probably go with the bigger 3.0 TDI V-6engine for the SQ5.
The current engine choices for stateside Q5s are the 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine rated at 211 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, and the range-topping 3.2 FSI V6 engine rated at 270 hp and 243 lb-ft of torque.
Audi has been quite busy boosting up its performance credentials in recent months. Back in March the automaker was caught testing an RS4 Avant on the Nuerburgring and the following month spy photographers caught the S4 Avant making its rounds around the track.