Audi’s Q5 hybrid plans have been on-again off-again since even before the compact SUV hit the market, but the latest reports from German suggest the eco-friendly utility vehicle is moving ahead as planned. Wolfgang Hatz, head of powertrain development for the Volkswagen group, hinted the hybrid Q5 was back on earlier this year.
According to a new report, Audi will offer the hybrid Q5 in 2011. It was originally thought the Q5 hybrid would hit the market in late 2010, but it remains possible the hybrid Q5 could still launch next year with a 2011 model year designation.
Audi is a bit reluctant to launch the hybrid SUV – as those within the German automaker still view diesel as a superior green technology – with Hatz admitting Audi is only doing “hybrids in order to show people that we are able to do them.”
As such, Audi isn’t pouring all of its resources into its hybrid operations, with the Q5 hybrid expected to use a nickel-metal hydride battery instead of a next-generation lithium-ion pack. It remains unclear what powertrain Audi will mate to the hybrid system.
Audi will launch a diesel version of the Q5 sometime after the hybrid model hits the market.
06/11, 1:01 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
How Qrappy
06/11, 1:56 PM
posted by:
hypertext
This seems pretty close to the story a few hours ago from TheCarConnection:
http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1021383_2011-audi-q5-adding-hybrid-2010-q7-gets-facelift
I should know because I wrote it. A linkback would be good form.
06/11, 3:14 PM
posted by:
Borat
It will have worse mileage then with i4 diesel, will have much worse driving characteristics and will be hailed as a success.
06/11, 3:55 PM
posted by:
impulsive facts
“…Audi is only doing “hybrids in order to show people that we are able to do them….As such, Audi isn’t pouring all of its resources into its hybrid operations…”
What a great rationale for making a car: we’ll do it, and not nearly as well as we could have done it, because were being peer-pressured into it.
06/11, 5:40 PM
posted by:
A4
Nobody is peer-pressuring them besides the tree huggers and yuppies who drive choose cars like the Prius over much better cars like the Jetta TDI. You can go down to Toyota and thank the next person that drives off in a Prius for putting a real damper on diesels for everyone else.
06/11, 7:26 PM
posted by:
fitzla
I would much rather have the diesel. I will never own a hybrid. Biggest waste ever. Bring the diesel here and I’m in. I have the Q5 3.2 now, and LOVE it!
06/11, 7:31 PM
posted by:
andy
they still make hybrids… its all about cars powered purely by the owners sense of self-importance… oh wait, that’s just the d-bag Prius owners
06/12, 2:34 AM
posted by:
A4
well its the d-bag Tahoe/Yukon/Escalade Hybrid owners now too.
06/12, 2:49 AM
posted by:
SomeGreek
Hybrids are the future. They would at some point HAVE to embrace the technology.
06/12, 3:05 PM
posted by:
gugy
Why Audi just launch the TDI Q5 in USA already? The technology is there and people want it.
Hybrid could be interesting, but I rather have diesel now.
Q5 is a great car, it would be much nicer on a TDI version.
06/15, 10:08 PM
posted by:
CmonSense
Audi should just bring the 2.0 tfsi , and the 2.0 tdi engines to the USA. Hybrid technology is fine for now, until the hippies, and greenpeace idiots decide that those batteries in hybrids are polluting the planet in landfills, and get legislation passed to cease production. Then your hybrids will be worthless, and we will all once again be forced to purchase the next feel good vehicle technology.