Detroit 2008: Audi targeting Q4 2008 Q7 hybrid intro, A4 hybrid to follow
Off in a remote corner of the Audi booth is a display labeled A4 hybrid drive-train. According to an Audi representative this is the same hybrid system being developed for the Q7 SUV. The Q7 hybrid is still targeted for a production launch in the fourth quarter of 2008. Audi has not firmed up a launch date yet for the A4 hybrid although they are hoping to launch it in soon after the Q7. On the technical side, the A4 uses a 2.0L TFSI turbocharged direct injected four cylinder and a lithium ion battery. The battery pack looks notably compact compared the NiMH units used in some other current hybrids.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jim Gorde 11:44PM (7/21/2008)
@ eddy
Very true. I'm a huge fan of diesel, and 4th gen common rail is IMO the most viable immediate green future. Strapping on two, maybe three turbochargers on a compact diesel engine especially the 2L 4 cyl or the 2.7 V6 is sure to make a change for the better.
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armmat 2:27PM (1/15/2008)
That POS will need to drop about 2000 lbs before a hybrid system does any good. Does anyone else see the complete and utter retardness of hybridizing overweight, overpriced turds on 4 wheels?
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terrence_bethea 1:10AM (1/18/2008)
Simply put, there's a portion of the population that will continue to buy vehicles that out-size their actual needs. As long as that market exists, automakers will produce vehicles to meet the demand.
Yes, the Q7 is overweight and overpriced but better to have this turd get a hybrid drivetrain than have to rely on less efficient V6/V8 gasoline. The simple truth is that it will still be awhile for Americans truly embrace diesel.
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eddy 2:52AM (1/16/2008)
Why, the A4 is the ligthest car of its class/market segment and allready has a high mileage (about 34 mpg with the 1.8 TFSI). And the Q7 has a consumption reduction of about 25 % with that hybrid-system.
But i think Audis hybrid system would really be impressive if it was combined with the new 2.7 TDI and the next generation ultra-lightweight alluminum space spaceframe of the next A8.
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MCG 2:32PM (1/16/2008)
I agree with Eddy. Sure I wish you Americans would stop buying SUVs but so long as you don't hybrids are a very good thing. The weight of these cars make it so that the addition of a hybrid won't increase the weight noticeably. And due to the massive amounts of torque and energy needed and lost to accelerate and decelerate these monstrosities, hybrids have a bigger impact on these heavy vehicles. With regenerative braking and high amounts of torque that hybrids have. So putting them in heavy gas guzzlers is a sensible thing to do.
I'm really loving that new A4 though it's about my dream car so I can't wait till a car worth caring about like that one goes hybrid.
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