Audi did surprise us. We all thought that Audi was going to finally unveil the Q8 SUV at the Beijing Auto Show. It turns out; we were only half-right. The German automaker is unveiling an SUV in Beijing; it’s just not the Q8. Instead, we’re being treated to the world debut of the new Q5L, a longer version of the Q5 that’s aimed specifically at the Chinese market. There are lots to talk about with regards to the Q5L, but the most important thing is its size. The Q5L, among other things, is the first-ever Audi SUV to be offered in an “L” version.

In addition to that distinction, the Q5L also joins the A4L, A6L, and A8L as the only Audi models to come with an extended wheelbase. Seems pretty important, right?

To get an idea how the Q5L measures up against the standard Q5, you’ll need to think longer, as in really longer. The overall length of the extended SUV, for example, is now longer by 3.5 inches compared to the standard model. Likewise, its wheelbase also increases by 3.5 inches. The longer aesthetic is clearer from the outside, but the real benefits can be found in the interior, specifically in the rear section where rear seat passengers now have an extra 4.3 inches of knee room to enjoy. Cargo space, on the other hand, remains unchanged. That means that depending on the position of the rear seats; future owners can expect around 19.4 – 54.7 cu. ft. of space in the luggage compartment.

Nothing much has changed with the car’s exterior appearance. The Audi Q5L looks like the second-generation Q5. It’s just a lot longer. The obvious physical stature of the Q5L notwithstanding, the extended SUV is going to be offered in five different trim levels. These include the base trim Vogue, Lifestyle, Design, Sport, and the curiously named Sport Plus Line range-topper. Each trim will come with different exterior and interior details, though there is standard equipment across the board, including three-zone deluxe automatic air conditioning and the Audi smartphone interface. Higher trim options obviously get more of the good stuff. The Design, Sport and, Sport plus lines get a Bang & Olufsen sound system with 3D sound.

The Audi Q5L comes with just one engine, and it’s not a hybrid. Instead, the SUV will be powered by one of Audi’s most reliable engine units, and one that also happens to be a fan-favorite in China: the 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder TFSI. It comes with two different power outputs — 190 horsepower and 252 horsepower — which would be enough to help the SUV accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 8.6 seconds or 6.7 seconds, respectively.

There’s no word yet on how much the Q5L is going to cost in China, but the SUV is expected to go on sale sometime in the next few months. Don’t hold out any hope, though, of seeing this model here in the U.S. It’s unlikely that we’ll get to see it hit our roads and highways.

References

Read our full review on the 2017 Audi Q5.

Read more Audi news.

Read more 2018 Beijing Auto Show news.