Tag Archives: MimboloveChina
With Audi choosing the 2020 Beijing Auto Show for the world debut of the Q5 Sportback, it was inevitable that the stand also included a market-specific variant.
That would be the Q5L Sportback long-wheelbase model, a China-exclusive variant built locally by the FAW-Volkswagen joint venture. Based on the existing Q5L SUV, the Q5L Sportback has a 2,908-mm (114.5-in) wheelbase – 89-mm (3.5-in) longer than the global model.
Overall, it measures 4,778 mm (188.1 in) in length, 1,892 mm (74.5 in) in width, and 1,666 mm (65.6 in) in height. Visually, the stretched wheelbase is easy to notice when looking at the longer rear doors, which give the Q5L Sportback a more flowing profile than the standard car.
See Also: 2021 Audi Q5 Sportback Debuts As The Regular Q5’s Trendier Sibling
The extended wheelbase also contributes to a roomier interior for rear seat passengers, especially when it comes to knee room and legroom. We imagine headroom also stands to gain a little bit since the roofline is slightly less sloping towards the back.
Elsewhere, the Audi Q5L Sportback looks identical to the global model. Mind you, the engine lineup is tailored for the Chinese market and includes only two turbocharged gasoline units labeled the 40 TFSI and 45 TFSI. Both have a 2.0-liter displacement and produce 187 PS (184 HP) and 220 PS (217 PS), respectively. There’s no mention of an SQ5L Sportback performance model and it’s unlikely to happen, since the SQ5 SUV is not available in long-wheelbase guise.
FAW-Volkswagen will build the Q5L Sportback at its plant in Changchun, China, with the market launch expected in the first quarter of next year. Prices will be announced closer to the model’s debut in China.
Buick has provided a first official glimpse into the Velite 7, its first all-electric SUV which will launch in China later this year.
Joining the likes of the Velite 5 extended range and Velite 6 and Velite 6 Plus electric vehicles, it is believed to be based on the Chevrolet Bolt. While the Velite 7 is a China-only affair, a Chevy-rebadged derivative should find its way to the United States eventually.
A modular lithium-ion battery, with an optimized design and improved cell chemistry, powers the Velite 7’s zero-emission propulsion system.
Read Also: Chevrolet Menlo Launches As Brand’s First EV In China, Priced From $22,700
The Buick Velite 7 features a liquid-cooling battery thermal management system, which is said to meet General Motors’ global standards for safety and reliability. More importantly, it promises a range of up to 310 miles (500 km), albeit under the very optimistic NEDC test cycle. This will likely drop to around 200 miles (320 km) in the real world.
“Buick is strengthening its EV lineup with an all-new entry for today’s consumers, giving them the functionality of an SUV and the confidence to go farther with an impressive 500 kilometers of range”, commented the executive director of Buick Sales and Marketing at SAIC-GM, Molly Peck. “We topped it off with a suite of leading technologies to meet the needs of progressive and eco-minded Chinese drivers.”
Further details will be announced closer to the electric SUV’s launch, but previous reports have indicated the Velite 7 is 167.9 inches (4,264 mm) long and has a 105.3-inch (2,675-mm) wheelbase. The electric motor allegedly develops 174 horsepower, but America’s variant, which will be dubbed the Bolt EUV (Electric Utility Vehicle), is expected with more than 200 HP.
