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.
