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Here's an interesting story we've found via a chain of outlets (quattrholic via WorldCarFans via L'Automobile, the French car news magazine). The rumor, attributed to L'Automobile, suggests Audi will launch S and RS versions of its Q5 crossover. According to the story, the SQ5 would have the usual S-car upgrades and be powered by the same 333 hp variant of the 3.0T found in the S4 while RS Q5 would be essentially the same spec as the Q5 custom (above) design study shown at Worthersee last year (3.0T tuned to 408 hp).
So What Do We Think?
We hear Audi recently settled on more naming issues with Nissan over use of the word Q and also recently read, though I don't recall where, that SQ5 and RS Q5 designations had been trademarked by Ingolstadt. Don't read too much into this though as Audi is probably just protecting its space for any potential future expansion.
As for Q5 and the 3.0T, we hear from Europe that Audi is planning to fit the 3.0T to the Q5 though MY 2011 is probably a bit aggressive for that. We hear that when it does eventually come to market, it won't be badged S. Further, Audi didn't badge the Q7 V12 TDI as an RS either so, at least for now, we suspect there is no plan for assigning RS designations to Q models.
Full Story - L'Automobile (in French)
Full Story - WorldCarFans
Full Story
Full Story - Q5 custom Design Study Press Release
Q5 custom Photo Gallery

 

[Djibril]

I'd at least hope that Audi would still be operating like BMW used to with the M-division: S- and RS-spec cars have to handle as well as have stonking big engines. Sadly, as BMW has shown that they're perfectly willing to trade heritage for money with the X5-M and X6-M, so I won't hold out too much hope.
With that said, what's the more official word on re-tuned versions of the 3.0T coming out of the factory?

 

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Re: (Djibril)

I haven't yet heard of any official plans for upping power but you could assume that the engine is certainly good for that from the factory given the setup of the Q5 custom.

 

[Djibril]

I was thinking more in terms of warranty. Would they strengthen the internals to deal with the higher boost or just accept a few more claims? Audi seems to be pretty wary of pushing their engines too hard. Admittedly for good reason after the 2.7T debacle.

 

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Re: (Djibril)

They do have a pretty strict endurance testing philosophy. The short answer is that I don't know the specifics on that engine's augmented capabilities but I'll ask someone who does next time I see him.