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 wheelbase – 89-mm longer than the global model.
Overall, it measures 4,778 mm in length, 1,892 mm in width, and 1,666 mm 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.
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 and 220 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.
