2021 B9.5 Facelift

[masemoto]

https://www.autoblog.com/2019/09/03/...#slide-2165756

Hoping they lose the big chunky grille and follow the Q7 facelift. Looks like the car length shoulder crease is staying around...

[chawski]

Looks like they ditched the wheel and track pad too for a touchscreen. Welcome to 2012 audi! Haha

For as much tech as everyone talks about in the new audis, it really is surprising its taking until 2021 to bring in a touchscreen to their best selling vehicle. You can argue all day about which is better and tactile feedback, but you can't argue that literally every car on the market has them and has had them for quite a while

[shaolinsun]

I was hoping this upcoming year’s 2020 would get the touch screen. Oh well, but I don’t like the grill/lights on the front of this 2021. The lights are almost a tertiary element instead of a main design element.

That screen is huge. lol.

[MK2SQ]

Looks like they ditched the wheel and track pad too for a touchscreen. Welcome to 2012 audi! Haha

For as much tech as everyone talks about in the new audis, it really is surprising its taking until 2021 to bring in a touchscreen to their best selling vehicle. You can argue all day about which is better and tactile feedback, but you can't argue that literally every car on the market has them and has had them for quite a while

You can’t fix stupid and Audi gave up trying to teach the customer that touch is not the answer for user interface in a car.

It’s sad that they lost the fight... touch is great for a phone not a car.

[phillyquattro]

You can’t fix stupid and Audi gave up trying to teach the customer that touch is not the answer for user interface in a car.

It’s sad that they lost the fight... touch is great for a phone not a car.

I'd argue that there is NO tactile input method that's truly great for cars. When you're sitting parked, sure. When driving, the best input would be voice command so you don't have to break focus from the road at all. Unfortunately there is no real good voice control on any car that I've seen. Some are pretty decent, but nothing is quite all the way there yet. In the near future you'll just talk to the car and maybe have a touch screen or two. Just think about how clean the interiors will look without all those dumb buttons. The Porsche designers are gonna have a damn fit when they're finally forced to stop vomiting buttons all over the cabin.

[MK2SQ]

I'd argue that there is NO tactile input method that's truly great for cars. When you're sitting parked, sure. When driving, the best input would be voice command so you don't have to break focus from the road at all. Unfortunately there is no real good voice control on any car that I've seen. Some are pretty decent, but nothing is quite all the way there yet. In the near future you'll just talk to the car and maybe have a touch screen or two. Just think about how clean the interiors will look without all those dumb buttons. The Porsche designers are gonna have a damn fit when they're finally forced to stop vomiting buttons all over the cabin.

Voice is only good for navigation and phone txt communication.

Think about it you are driving Listening to music then you wanna turn up the air-conditioning what are you do you first have to press a button and or say a specific phrase that is probably difficult to remember on the spot and it’s weird because it has to be something that you don’t normally mention in your conversation. Then the music turns off or lowers it’s volume. Then you have to tell your car to raise the air conditioning at 2°. Then the car processes that data in few seconds later it does it. Now this doesn’t work accurately or fast or convenient in this best application. How about your driving with the windows down. How about your driving in the rain. How about there somebody sleeping in the car. How about you want to enjoy your music or you driving with a convertible roof though. It’s simply stupid to think that voice or touch screen is better then a button or a knob for 80% of interaction we do it the car.

[SQive]

Agreed. You get to know where everything is by touch, then you needn't take your eyes off the road at all. I still think that tactile buttons are the way to go, at least for the usual accessories.

[q5 dave]

Eh as long as the climate control knobs remain. I'm not about the all touchscreen everything. That was my biggest complaint after spending some time in the new a6 and a7.

[chawski]

I agree that messing with a touch screen is not ideal when driving, but for simple things like Android auto, like answering a call or adjusting the map, having a touch option would be nice. Android auto and car play seem to be tough optimized. Would be nice to have both options.

Regardless of anyone's opinion on touch VS tactile VS voice, people are voting with their wallets and that's all audi and every brand cares about

[MK2SQ]

I agree that messing with a touch screen is not ideal when driving, but for simple things like Android auto, like answering a call or adjusting the map, having a touch option would be nice. Android auto and car play seem to be tough optimized. Would be nice to have both options.

Regardless of anyone's opinion on touch VS tactile VS voice, people are voting with their wallets and that's all audi and every brand cares about

Yes it is and that was my original point. People are stupid but they had to go there or people like you or others above think the car is not “modern “ or “ current” as no touch.

I use car play all day long I never need to touch the screen and I hate that I do in my wife’s 2019 Jetta.

I think that the CarPlay also stop progress of automotive industry development with user interfaces as ever idiots thinks that Apple knows better then a car manufacturer on how to interact with navigation, phones, and music.

Have fun with a scratch up dirty screen with grease finger prints, with no ability to change song , make a call , use navigation, without having the need to click with finger 10 screens when driving. Not to mention at night have fun getting blinded by the screen as you have to look at it to press the screen then not being able to see when you move your eyes on to the dark road.

[chawski]

So a touchscreen is stupid and distracting, but a 12inch screen that's equally as bright with Google earth in front of your face isn't?

Just because people don't agree with you and want a touch screen doesn't mean they're (I'm) stupid, it means we have a different opinion than you, and that's ok

[MK2SQ]

So a touchscreen is stupid and distracting, but a 12inch screen that's equally as bright with Google earth in front of your face isn't?

Just because people don't agree with you and want a touch screen doesn't mean they're (I'm) stupid, it means we have a different opinion than you, and that's ok

12” the virtual cockpit ? As the MMi screen is not 12”. If you mean the MMi screen then It’s not the same as I don’t need it on or to touch it. You realize you have the option to turn the screen off now right and everything works as you have a button for it. Trying doing that with a touch screen that has to be on 24/7 for any option to be activated. As for the digital cluster virtual cockpit you don’t have to look at it at night to change an option, it’s not designed for user interaction it’s designed for data display. when you have a HUD no reason to look at it at all. Plus I don’t have a google map displaying but a Speedo.

Some things work and are “smart” some are just “stupid” . I’m not calling you stupid but I will not pretend that touch for interaction in a car is “smart” .

I’m also not looking for anyone to agree with me, I don’t need anyone to agree with me. The forums are not public courts that are designed to get people approval.

You think touch is better then a button that’s good for you, you think that makes the car more technically advanced that’s also good for you. , could touch be more popular sure but it don’t make it right.

We got thousands of people that still today think that earth is flat, and before that was the norm.this shows you Just because something is the popular answer it doesn’t make it correct .

[DiscoDan]

computers are stupid

[arjun90]

Wait 'till the electronics fail and cost thousands to replace, rofl
Newer cars are designed to fail, lets face it---modern day consumerism
Most will lease anyway; but in reality, deep within--- that's not what consumers want---or may be it is, that's why consumers have so many choices

[phillyquattro]

Voice is only good for navigation and phone txt communication.

Think about it you are driving Listening to music then you wanna turn up the air-conditioning what are you do you first have to press a button and or say a specific phrase that is probably difficult to remember on the spot and it’s weird because it has to be something that you don’t normally mention in your conversation. Then the music turns off or lowers it’s volume. Then you have to tell your car to raise the air conditioning at 2°. Then the car processes that data in few seconds later it does it. Now this doesn’t work accurately or fast or convenient in this best application. How about your driving with the windows down. How about your driving in the rain. How about there somebody sleeping in the car. How about you want to enjoy your music or you driving with a convertible roof though. It’s simply stupid to think that voice or touch screen is better then a button or a knob for 80% of interaction we do it the car.

I see and understand the scenario you're describing here, but the thing is you're just describing how poorly voice controls work right now...which is pretty awful for sure. Voice controls in cars are so far behind where even shitty digital assistants like Siri or Cortana were a few years ago. Looking at something like Google Assistant today and it's already pretty amazing and pretty accurate. The ability to have in-context conversations with it is easily overlooked and pretty f'n cool. Where technology like that will be in 3-5 years will be amazing but will absolutely be taken for granted at that point. I can already tell my assistant this exact set of commands and it doesn't choke on them or really have much delay between pulling them off.

"Hey Google...
Adjust the temperature to 74 degree...
Play Supreme Clientele in the living room...
Set a timer for 25 minutes"

Done. Do I have to make a slight pause between those commands, sure. Will I have to do that in 3-5 years, almost certainly not. You could easily have this same type of scenario in the car as well.

"Hey Audi...
Disable engine auto stop...
Adjust the temperature to 69 degrees and turn on the AC...
Message Mops "you're a sexy bitch"...
Play California Uber Alles...
Turn up the volume...
Turn up the volume more...
Roll all windows down 30%..."

Would outside variables like wind, rain, etc play a factor? Absolutely. This is why your cellphone has multiple microphones in it and a lot of software to help. One mic to listen to you, one to listen and filter out background/ambient noise, software to help with the filtering.

To me, thinking that we're not heading towards voice controlled pretty much everything in cars is like saying we're not heading towards EVs. It's gonna happen. It's just a matter of time. To be entirely fair though; by the time the auto industry gets to the point where voice control doesn't suck, we'll all have self driving cars with beds in them (not the fake self driving kind like Tesla's "autopilot"). So it probably doesn't matter anyways at that point whether they have buttons or voice control cause we'll all just be screwing around in the cabin trying to kill time.

[MK2SQ]

I see and understand the scenario you're describing here, but the thing is you're just describing how poorly voice controls work right now...which is pretty awful for sure. Voice controls in cars are so far behind where even shitty digital assistants like Siri or Cortana were a few years ago. Looking at something like Google Assistant today and it's already pretty amazing and pretty accurate. The ability to have in-context conversations with it is easily overlooked and pretty f'n cool. Where technology like that will be in 3-5 years will be amazing but will absolutely be taken for granted at that point. I can already tell my assistant this exact set of commands and it doesn't choke on them or really have much delay between pulling them off.

"Hey Google...
Adjust the temperature to 74 degree...
Play Supreme Clientele in the living room...
Set a timer for 25 minutes"

Done. Do I have to make a slight pause between those commands, sure. Will I have to do that in 3-5 years, almost certainly not. You could easily have this same type of scenario in the car as well.

"Hey Audi...
Disable engine auto stop...
Adjust the temperature to 69 degrees and turn on the AC...
Message Mops "you're a sexy bitch"...
Play California Uber Alles...
Turn up the volume...
Turn up the volume more...
Roll all windows down 30%..."

Would outside variables like wind, rain, etc play a factor? Absolutely. This is why your cellphone has multiple microphones in it and a lot of software to help. One mic to listen to you, one to listen and filter out background/ambient noise, software to help with the filtering.

To me, thinking that we're not heading towards voice controlled pretty much everything in cars is like saying we're not heading towards EVs. It's gonna happen. It's just a matter of time. To be entirely fair though; by the time the auto industry gets to the point where voice control doesn't suck, we'll all have self driving cars with beds in them (not the fake self driving kind like Tesla's "autopilot"). So it probably doesn't matter anyways at that point whether they have buttons or voice control cause we'll all just be screwing around in the cabin trying to kill time.

Few things I want to address,

1) is overcomplicating and over engineering a solution to a simple task.
2) introduction of touch and voice to lower the manufacturer cost of the car not to improve on usability
3) people getting cut up with using technology or complicated systems as they think as long as I introduce a technical solution somehow the process is better

Moving a dial up or down will always be the best, easiest, and quickest interaction with the car until the interaction is not needed.

Self driving cars is another subject and I can see the usability of voice in this example however they won’t happen in our life time if ever. Don’t want to text about this topic as people get very passionate but having a deep inside view this is as big of a hype as hydrogen cars, turbine cars, nuclear cars... they are fun and get people exited but won’t provide a national or global solution that could be safely implemented or mandated. Huge national changes and then global changes would first need to take place before true self guided cars are on the street.

[chawski]

I think voice Integration is by far the best option. Problem is it's not precise enough currently, so you spend more time trying to fix what you wanted it to say, which negates the safety of not having to look at anything

My dad is an engineer for one of the large companies working on automaton in cars. His opinion is we are unlikely to ever see a point in our lifetime where we can get in a car without a steering wheel and find a parking spot at our destination. (level 5 autonomy)
For autonomy, level 0 meaning we do everything, level 5 means we do nothing. We are currently at like level 2.1 at best, despite what Elon musk preaches. I'm happy with a system that allows me to drive, but only intervenes if I'm about to screw up.

[chawski]

The other thing to mention on full autonomy, is that there's no question it's going to take a hell of a lot of computing power. Problem is is we are closer to "hitting the wall" on moore's law than most people think, which is to say, we are close to the end of the days when next year's processors are faster than the last.
It's odd to think, especially someone growing up in "melennials time", that your next computer might not be all that much better than the one you currently use

[MK2SQ]

Regardless how smart computers get they have to interact and operate in “stupid” people and inconsistent laws, rules, and local consistent changing environment. Until you mandate every sing, ever traffic law, every car build design, and strict repair and on the road compliance we won’t see automation at LV5.

What’s worse is the current automation as it creates wrong expectations by naming drivers assistant options like “auto pilot” and preaching that automation is safer then drivers. The problem is that current automation is not. This is why people using Tesla cars drive under in to and on to cars and obstruction. Statistically with the number of cars that are manually operated vs Tesla autopilot accidents are more relevant. Not to mention completely available as long as people drive the car and not believe the “autopilot” will save them.

That’s the worse and most dangerous part as people marketing the technology as more ready and more capable as it really is. And people think the car is able to drive by it self and ignore or don’t react fast enough when manual interaction is needed.

[MK2SQ]

Some scenarios are zones that constant traffic is 20 to 30 mph faster then posted speed limit for example Chicago area. Or “Philadelphia “ left when you have the right of way when going left from a straight line against traffic. Or millions local signs like no trucks during mon-fri 5pm to 7pm or no turn signals that are not documented. All you need is one of the “automated “ cars to be blocked view to a street sing by SUV or a truck and now is doing illegal speeds, illegal turns, or worse is running a read light as the truck that it was following obstructed it’s view and places the car right in the path of 50mph cross traffic. Not to mention road works and temporary hazards like snow, water, and farming materials on the toad in urban areas that will affect traction. Not to mention “simple things “ like when police officer is changing flow of the traffic and telling you to drive around in the upcoming lane. We will never see full or semi automation that will allow you to take hands and eyes away from the road for more then short periods of the time and even this creates more danger the be helping.

[phillyquattro]

Few things I want to address,

1) is overcomplicating and over engineering a solution to a simple task.
2) introduction of touch and voice to lower the manufacturer cost of the car not to improve on usability
3) people getting cut up with using technology or complicated systems as they think as long as I introduce a technical solution somehow the process is better

Moving a dial up or down will always be the best, easiest, and quickest interaction with the car until the interaction is not needed.

You're basically making the "solution in search of a problem" argument, and 9 times out of 10 I would probably agree with you that we throw tech at a lot of problems simply for the sake of throwing tech at something. In this instance tho there will never be a better possible user interaction than voice control. We all think that a button is the best solution because it's currently the best solution and it's served us well for a long time. That doesn't mean it is tomorrow's best solution by any means. Buttons are great because they're simple and reliable. They do however 100% affect your focus as a driver, regardless of how well you know your cabin layout and how impossibly good you think you are at touching them without having to look. Sure, you may be able to turn on the air conditioning and adjust it to 68 without having to look while navigating heavy traffic, but you still just lost focus because your brain had to process and focus on the request you were making of it and to move your arm and hand in a coordinated fashion.

Briefly regarding autonomy; as a person who works for a tech company that leads the industry in this space, we will absolutely guaranteed see level 5 autonomy in our life (unless some of you are very old already..sorry). Whether or not political forces (local, regional, country laws) and public perception will adjust fast enough for it to be broadly accessible to all is a different story. I can already see the public perception here will require some work. I will say that some of the issues that were called out across the various posts are all things that have largely been solved already and have been for some time.

Side note; I saw "auto pilot" called out. It's hilarious that Musk was poking fun at Porsche for using the term "Turbo" on the Taycan while Tesla uses the term "auto pilot" for a not so auto piloted system. 🤦*♂️Also the "turbo" in any 911 has basically been moot since they moved all motors to forced induction. So there's that too.

Double Side note; we're way the hell of thread topic, but it's a fun discussion.

[chawski]

Way off topic, but, some fun things to think about.

The reality of being distracted while driving is it happens to everyone. Whether its omeone cutting you off, you looking at a cool car passing, noticing a funny license plate or bumper sticker.... The list goes on. It's gonna be interesting over the next 20 years to see how things change, both in practical sense as well as laws and whatnot.
Regardless, it's a hell of a time to be a car enthusiast. 10 years ago, a car with 300hp was banana land, now, you can get that in a camry!

[MK2SQ]

Definitely an interesting conversation and looks like we all have skin in the game directly and indirectly with the technology or automotive implementation. Not tossing issues on a solution this are simply items that you would need to address and to get that you would have to connect all lights and keep all signs including temporary in live national directory. And trust me this won’t be done, good luck having people in a state like Alaska pay to connect all the lights and infrastructure so some guy from California can look out the window in stead of paying attention.

In regards to temp controls or other simple devices, some things just don’t need improvement. We got them right and adding complicated technical solution or continue investing for the sake of differentiation is pointless. Reminds of the NASA and pen writing in space problem.

Anyway, drinks on me if anyone wants to discuss in person. In Chicago all next week, then Atlanta, then Milwaukee. Then Lexington.

Have fun fellas.

[phillyquattro]

Have fun on those travels. Those are some great cities to visit for sure. I assume it's work travel, but even if so I hope you get some time to enjoy yourself on those trips.

[chawski]

Lexington, KY? If you're a bourbon drinker, you're only 20ish mins from some of the best distillers in the world!

[MK2SQ]

Have fun on those travels. Those are some great cities to visit for sure. I assume it's work travel, but even if so I hope you get some time to enjoy yourself on those trips.

Thanks, definitely all work but will try to get some recreational time in 😜

[MK2SQ]

Lexington, KY? If you're a bourbon drinker, you're only 20ish mins from some of the best distillers in the world!

I get some free samples when I’m there as most of them are our customers 😉 but I only drink that when in town.

[shaolinsun]

I see and understand the scenario you're describing here, but the thing is you're just describing how poorly voice controls work right now...which is pretty awful for sure. Voice controls in cars are so far behind where even shitty digital assistants like Siri or Cortana were a few years ago. Looking at something like Google Assistant today and it's already pretty amazing and pretty accurate. The ability to have in-context conversations with it is easily overlooked and pretty f'n cool. Where technology like that will be in 3-5 years will be amazing but will absolutely be taken for granted at that point. I can already tell my assistant this exact set of commands and it doesn't choke on them or really have much delay between pulling them off.

"Hey Google...
Adjust the temperature to 74 degree...
Play Supreme Clientele in the living room...
Set a timer for 25 minutes"

Done. Do I have to make a slight pause between those commands, sure. Will I have to do that in 3-5 years, almost certainly not. You could easily have this same type of scenario in the car as well.

"Hey Audi...
Disable engine auto stop...
Adjust the temperature to 69 degrees and turn on the AC...
Message Mops "you're a sexy bitch"...
Play California Uber Alles...
Turn up the volume...
Turn up the volume more...
Roll all windows down 30%..."

Would outside variables like wind, rain, etc play a factor? Absolutely. This is why your cellphone has multiple microphones in it and a lot of software to help. One mic to listen to you, one to listen and filter out background/ambient noise, software to help with the filtering.

To me, thinking that we're not heading towards voice controlled pretty much everything in cars is like saying we're not heading towards EVs. It's gonna happen. It's just a matter of time. To be entirely fair though; by the time the auto industry gets to the point where voice control doesn't suck, we'll all have self driving cars with beds in them (not the fake self driving kind like Tesla's "autopilot"). So it probably doesn't matter anyways at that point whether they have buttons or voice control cause we'll all just be screwing around in the cabin trying to kill time.

Play Supreme Clientele!! Haha 👐🏾

[kbrkr]

I have couple of other observations regarding the 2021 styling:

1. The rear looks like it is lower than the front, is that the final stance or is there equipment in the rear.
2. Sample vehicle has a tow hitch installed.
3. This model does NOT have a sunroof or moonroof.
4. The screen obscures the drivers view of the hood; I'm not a fan of placement of those screens, I'd rather have it embedded in the dashboard.
5. Headlights look more "squinty" so obviously LED did they get rid of the LED DRL's?

[BklynSQ5]

Anyone know anything more on the introduction of the 2021 Q5/SQ5? I would hate to order a 2020 and then have people start taking deliveries of the 2021 like a month or two later. When did the 2020 hit showrooms? November? October? I can't remember.

[SIQ5]

https://www.autoblog.com/2019/09/03/...#slide-2165756

Hoping they lose the big chunky grille and follow the Q7 facelift. Looks like the car length shoulder crease is staying around...

What's with the swirly paint? Is that supposed to discourage spy pics?

[BooBooKittyFk]

What's with the swirly paint? Is that supposed to discourage spy pics?

No it's one of those 3D pictures, if you look really close you will see a sailboat.

[masemoto]

Who wants a Q5 sportback?

https://www.motor1.com/news/404635/a...k-rumor-debut/

[25th AE GTi]

I grew up driving stick while smoking, drinking a coffee, shoulder holding my cell phone while adjusting the radio and never had a distracted driving incident. Education and awareness is paramount. So is not being stupid. :)

[DustinFennell]

Anyone know anything more on the introduction of the 2021 Q5/SQ5? I would hate to order a 2020 and then have people start taking deliveries of the 2021 like a month or two later. When did the 2020 hit showrooms? November? October? I can't remember.

I ordered my 2020 SQ5 in August and took delivery on January 3rd. Another forum member ordered theirs around the same time and took delivery the week before mine.

[SIQ5]

I ordered my 2020 SQ5 in August and took delivery on January 3rd. Another forum member ordered theirs around the same time and took delivery the week before mine.

I really hope they don’t run that painted trim under the grill. Looks like a retarded whale shark. What I said it...whale shark.


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine

[BklynSQ5]

I really hope they don’t run that painted trim under the grill. Looks like a retarded whale shark. What I said it...whale shark.


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine

The other day, my dealership tried to place my order for a 2020 Audi Exclusive color SQ5 and couldn't. They are no longer accepting exclusive color builds on Q5/SQ5. I guess that means the 2021 is right around the corner? Anyone know anything new yet?

[Silver-Bolt]

I believe that Audi has stopped production at all plants do to the virus. I believe that the update doesn't kick off until July.

[WtA4WtQ5]

I believe that Audi has stopped production at all plants do to the virus. I believe that the update doesn't kick off until July.

I am betting the July kick off will be pushed out so they don't have to scrap parts that only go on 2020's.

[DiscoDan]

The other day, my dealership tried to place my order for a 2020 Audi Exclusive color SQ5 and couldn't. They are no longer accepting exclusive color builds on Q5/SQ5. I guess that means the 2021 is right around the corner? Anyone know anything new yet?

Normally, orders are accepted in July for the following calendar year production.