Audi insiders have confirmed to automobile express that a Q7 e-tron will arrive in 2015. The hybrid SUV will arrive as part of the all-new second generation Q7 range next year and go head-to-head with the Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid.
The Q7 e-tron will increase Audi’s e-tron range to two models, with the German brand focusing on delivering a lot more plug-in hybrid models in the future to lower the average CO2 emissions.
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It’s expected that the Q7 e-tron will use the same 316bhp 3.0-litre supercharged V6 engine as the Cayenne S E-Hybrid, with an electric motor supplying an additional 94bhp. economy figures must also match that of the Cayenne at around 80mpg and 79g/km of CO2.
Mechanically, the new Q7 will be based on the MLB architecture – the same platform that will also be used for the upcoming Bentley SUV. It’s expected the Q7 will shed around 300kg in weight compared to the current version thanks to substantial use of aluminium and other lightweight materials.
Over the last six years Audi has minimized its average CO2 output by 20 per cent. With the firm underlining its commitment to plug-in hybrid models for the ‘next 10 years’ its range emissions look set to minimize even further.
“Plug-in hybrid technology will be the future of Audi for the next 10 to 15 years,” our source revealed to us. “If you have a range of a fully electric automobiles and you sell a lot of them, recharging becomes a real issue.”
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