2009 Audi Q5 - CNET News

turned in worse economy than we expected, but the 2009 Audi Q5 should serve as an example to those other car companies of how to do it right. And with Audi's new Drive Select system, the Q5 transforms from a cruiser to a canyon carver at the touch of a button. This is the first Audi we've seen with the new Multimedia Interface (MMI) controller, which also brings in a new hard-drive-based navigation system. As the Q5 is a completely new model for Audi, it doesn't suffer from legacy issues, getting the new cabin tech package from the start. The new navigation system puts the Q5 light years ahead of other Audi models. On first getting into the car and checking the maps, we were pleased to see traffic flow and incident information overlaid on nearby freeways. There was the pyramid-shaped Transamerica building, and there the carnelian-covered Bank of America tower rising above a landscape of lesser buildings. Along with 3D buildings, the Q5's maps also show topographical information, which proved very useful as we flogged the car around the Santa Cruz Mountains. Using this knob reminded us of old rotary telephones, and the reason why every new phone has a keypad. Source: www.cnet.com