Audi will merge diesel and plug-in hybrid technology with the second-generation Audi Q7, which will debut at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show.
The new Audi Q7 will be the first model from the Volkswagen Group to offer a plug-in hybrid diesel powertrain, a source from within the company told Autonews Europe. At its market launch in 2015, the Q7 will only feature gasoline and diesel powertrains, but the plug-in diesel version will come later and will be sold both in Europe and the U.S.
The automaker hopes the Q7 plug-in diesel will give it an edge over competing models from BMW and Mercedes-Benz, which currently offer plug-in hybrids with gasoline engines. The Audi Q7 will not be the first plug-in diesel offered in Europe though, as the Volvo V60 already offers the technology. Since its launch last year, Volvo has sold more than 10,000 V60 Plug-In Hybrids.
Audi technical boss Ulrich Hackenberg revealed earlier this year that the company wants to launch a plug-in diesel and said that the A8 and Q7 would be the first to get the powertrain. He also said the models will combine a 3.0-liter V6 diesel engine with an electric motor.
Audi has chosen the path of plug-in models because it believes it is the best solution for low-emission vehicles. That’s because these models offer increased driving range compared to all-electric models. Furthermore, adding a diesel into the ecuation will enhance driving range even more,
Photo Renderings Copyright Carscoops / Josh Byrnes
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