Developed in partnership with other European companies including Porsche and Volkswagon, the Q7’s Hybrid will feature a FSI direct-injection petrol engine as well as a separate electic engine. Here a 288-volt nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery pack will be used to power the electric motor, giving the Q7 Hybrid an extra 50 horsepower as well as the power to go from 0 to 60mph in as little as 8 seconds.
Like any other hybrid, it will also feature three driving modes; gas power, electric power, and the expected combination of both, usually put into action during acceleration. By using sensors in the brake and acceleration pedals, a tiptronic sensor, and considering current speed, the Q7 can decide the best time to bring these engines into action. The electric engine is able to take charge on its own at speeds up to 30mph and/or up to one mile, best for urban traffic, while after this point the gasoline engine is used to recharge the battery and continue powering the car.
Other, more subtle features of the hybrid include the ability to use kinetic energy present when braking or moving downhill without acceleration to recharge the battery. In addition, the gasoline engine also switches off during these moments, saving gasoline power that would otherwise be lost in conventional automobiles.
The frame itself will also be fitted with inlaid solar cells in the Q7s glass sunroof to power the internal ventilation and cooling systems, even when the automobile is parked, allowing for the driver to acclimate the interior climate without ever having to start the car.
The hybrid will also feature 27% better fuel economy over the original Q7, which only featured 16mpg, while still utilizing the same 3.6 liter tank. By punching the full mpg up to 21, Audi will join the likes of other SUV manufacturers including Chevy, GMC, and Cadillac, but still falls short of the fuel efficiency on comparable Ford, Mercury, Toyota and Lexus vehicles.
Sadly however, Audi also recently released that they are not planning on releasing the Q7 Hybrid for purchase in the US anytime soon, based in part on the weak dollar. While us folks across the pond may have a problem getting our hands on the Q7 Hybrid, its development only marks the beginning of a more economic trend in higher performing vehicles.
I am an junior English major/ Philosophy minor at Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland. Currently I am spending the spring of 2009 studying at the University College Cork in Cork, Ireland.
WOW! looks nice and seems like a great option for those who can’t live without an SUV. I would consider it as an option when buying my next car.