Audi's model onslaught

A model for every niche and every job description -- that appears to be the blueprint for Audi, which has aspirations of meeting, and beating, Mercedes and BMW across virtually every market segment.

The Ingolstadt car-maker has confirmed the launch of key new models, none more significant than the Q5, essentially a smaller brother to the Q7 full-size SUV that launches here in September.

Artist's impressions of the Q5, such as the one shown alongside, have been popping up on various web sites in recent months, and they indicate the vehicle will borrow many styling cues from the Q7.

"The Q5 will be an overtly sporty vehicle that will add an important product to the Audi model range," said Audi chairman Dr Martin Winterkorn at a recent board meeting.

"The Audi Q5 will take us a big step closer to vehicle sales of 1.4 million per year, a target that we have set ourselves for 2015."

Due to debut internationally in 2008, the Q5 will be pitched against the likes of the BMW X3 and upcoming Mercedes-Benz MLK (a smaller brother to the M-Class), with pricing expected to start around $63K in today's money.

Also in Audi's product pipeline is a model being referred to as the A5 Coupe, which may be pitched as a Mercedes CLK/BMW 3 Series Coupe rival. European sources suggest the suave two-door will resemble the Nuvolari concept that debuted at the 2003 Geneva motor show. It's believed the A5 Coupe could go into production as soon as 2007.

Believe it or not, even Porsche's Cayman is in Audi's crosshairs, and the salvo it plans to fire at the Stuttgart stormer is an RS version of the new-generation TT.

Although unconfirmed by Audi, the TT RS is likely to score an amped-up 260kW, 3.6-litre variant of the 3.2-litre V6 that features in the range-topping base model. The RS's added grunt will be complemented by uprated brakes and stiffer, lower suspension.

UK's AutoExpress magazine says the TT RS will be one of the most aggressive looking Audis yet, with flared wheelarches, chunky alloy wheels and a face distinguished by a tarmac-hugging spoiler and honeycomb mesh air intakes. The RS may also score an aluminium tailgate and doors to save weight.