BERLIN: Audi’s Q7 e-tron has been unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, boasting fuel consumption figures of just 1.7ltr/100km. Revealing the new 2015 Q7 late last year, Audi promised a model that could average the low fuel figure while still offering up to 275kW and 700Nm from its combined diesel-electric powerplant.
And now the Q7 e-tron has arrived as Audi’s first diesel plug-in hybrid, with sales in its home market of Germany expected to commence in the coming weeks.
The 3.0 litre V6 diesel engine makes 190kW and 600Nm while the electric motor is good for 94kW and 350Nm, with power reaching the road via an eight-speed automatic (which decouples in EV mode) and the quattro all-wheel-drive system.
Audi says the engine’s active engine mounts are a “world first” for a diesel, which help to keep engine vibrations at bay.
The e-tron boasts an all-electric range of up to 56km, helping to keep CO2 emissions down to less than 50g/km. Using the available diesel as well, the Q7 could feasibly travel up to 1,410km between fuel stops.
From rest, the Q7 e-tron will hit 100km/h in six seconds, on its way to a top speed of 225km/h.
The lithium-ion battery pack has a capacity of 17.3kWh, and can be fully charged in around 2.5 hours depending on the power source.
Besides the efficient powerplant, the rest is all Q7 which Audi says has the largest interior in its class.
Features include satellite navigation and the ‘Audi connect’ internet module, which combine during times of traffic congestion to suggest the most efficient route to the driver.
An integrated heat pump takes ‘waste’ heat from the electric drivetrain and makes it available to the cabin for heating, which improves efficiency and makes the heating option available sooner to the occupants (no need to wait for the diesel engine to warm up).
The driver can choose from one of four driving modes: EV mode (prioritises EV driving), battery-hold mode (retains the battery’s charge for later in the journey), battery-charge mode and ‘normal’ hybrid mode.
No word yet on whether we’ll see the 2015 Audi Q7 e-tron in Australia, but the A3 e-tron is scheduled to arrive in local showrooms soon.
