Fourtitude: Q7 Hybrid Concept

[jamie@vwvortex]

An engineering first in Frankfurt where Audi is premiering its first hybrid vehicle powered by an FSI direct-injection petrol engine. The Audi Q7 hybrid concept study is equipped with a 4.2-litre FSI V8 drive unit developing 257 kW (350 bhp) and 440 Newton metres of torque. An electric motor that has also been integrated into the driveline adds up to an extra 200 Nm of torque. The study is making its debut at the 2005 International Motor Show in Frankfurt. Full Story...

[Quattroplay]

I really hope they bring the magnificent technology to the market. If they brought the Q7 Hybrid to market it would rip Lexus apart.

[AuForm]

Kind of silly. Why would a 4.2l V8 need electrical assistance, and why put it in an SUV?

Make it a small car with a small diesel and then we'll talk. Otherwise, this is just a gimmick for yuppies who feel guilty about their SUVs.

[GT17V]

0-62 in 6.8 seconds....

RX330 (a detuned V6 also--probably for regular gas instead of premium)...does the 0-60 in 7.0 seconds.

http://www.mpt.org/motorweek/reviews/rt2432.shtml

Searching around for 0-62, turns out to be in the mid 7 seconds.

Not bad for a 3.3L detuned V6 with 150 less hp.

[fiorya]

Is this the first VAG hybrid electric vehicle Debut?

[what]

Hey VW, how about a goddamn hybrid that gets GOOD economy

[TWinbrook46636]

I thought VAG could care less about hybrid technology. Maybe they have changed their tune? A strange vehicle of choice to start with though. How about giving us hybrid versions of the A3, A4, Beetle, Golf, Jetta, etc. instead?

[dangonay]

Quote, originally posted by GT17V »

0-62 in 6.8 seconds.... RX330 (a detuned V6 also--probably for regular gas instead of premium)...does the 0-60 in 7.0 seconds. http://www.mpt.org/motorweek/reviews/rt2432.shtml Searching around for 0-62, turns out to be in the mid 7 seconds. Not bad for a 3.3L detuned V6 with 150 less hp.

You mean not bad for a vehicle with two electric motors putting out several times the HP & torque of the Audi Q7's single electric motor in a vehicle that weighs a full 800 pounds less, right?

This is a concept hybrid vehicle. Imagine that same drive system applied to a Passat or Jetta. Now that would be a good use of the technology.

[DaveInDallas]

What's with all the bashing? I'm just glad Audi is looking at hybrid technology - I didn't realize that they had been researching it for so long. I hope they bring it to market quickly and extend it to other vehicles. I'd love to see a TDI hybrid - that would be awesome! I also like the idea of the solar sunroof not only ventilating the car but being able to cool the car before starting it.

I agree that it makes sense to extend the technology to other vehicles including small ones - but improving the mileage of a large vehicle is just as worthwhile.

Kudos Audi.

[MYTHOS]

Quote »

nearly 13 percent less than the standard-production model

13% fuel savings. What a joke!

In no way is that cost efficient especially since you have another engine that will most likely need maintenance.

In terms of "good for environment"; we have better technology out there now that can reduce pollution much more. Less fuel burned means less tax money for the Government so we won't be seeing anything soon that is worth looking at in my humble opinion...


Modified by MYTHOS at 9:54 PM 9-14-2005

[Eric Dow]

And people wonder why these boards aren't as active as they used to be...

I guess people here now never had their parents teach them the golden rule about SHUT YOUR TRAP IF ALL YOU HAVE IS NEGATIVE THINGS TO SAY!!!

The Q7 weights a $h1tload more than it's competition, offers better towing, and more space inside. If you want a comparison for space, compare it to the Youkon which gets REALLY CRAPPY mileage.

How many of you NEED an SUV are speaking badly of the car? You know, there are familys of 4 that like to take along friends camping and don't want to get stuck with numb handling of a van...

This thing LOOK GREAT, offers some responsibility to progress within the allowance of what the US EPA and CARB will allow into the freeking country and all you guys can do is Knock it?!?!?!? Go find another place to bash people and their work

[MYTHOS]

This is an open to public forum. Opinions will be expressed.

You were bashing the Yukon in your text, some may be very happy with theirs. (not me, I don't buy domestic)

I would say the opinions, positive and negative are an important factor in the cars we drive today. I would rather see opinions about future cars than the ones we have all over vwvortex about an owners newly aquired set of bbs wheels and other copied accessories. Like sheep!

my .02

Oh, and I have an SUV. Most people don't need one.


Modified by MYTHOS at 8:55 AM 9-16-2005

[CarLuvrSD]

I'm glad to see Audi working the Hybrid angle.

I share some of the same sentiments others do, regarding their choice of platforms. Those of us who are efficiency enthusiasts, like myself, aren't going to get very excited about an SUV that only gets 19 mpg. However, I suspect Audi's claims are based on actual test results obtained from real world driving. The reason I mention this is that actual real world mileage improvements of other hybrid offerings from Honda and Toyota are equally unimpressive. The Accord hybrid only gets about 20% better mileage than the regular V6, and only 10% better than the 4 cyl model. But there is a HUGE price difference due the additional technology. If efficiency is the goal, one would be better off buying the 4 cyl for the first 400k miles or so. And don't forget the batteries lose efficiency over time and eventually need to be replaced.

One bit of technology I find a bit exciting is the solar panel. That article doesn't mention if it helps charge the batteries or not. I hope it does. Hybrids get much better mileage if they start off each trip with fully charged batteries. That way you could park it at work, and by the time you were ready to go home it would have fully charged batteries again. I predict most hybrids will have solar battery chargers in a few years.

But the real savings in hybrid technology comes when an ultra efficient internal combustion engine is combined with electric motors. For this reason I'd much rather see a TDI 5 or 6 cylinder in the Q7.

If I were President, I would really be pushing the development of biodiesel and hybrid technology. By combining the 2, we could cut our dependance on foreign oil in half, over the next 20 years. More if we increase domestic production. ( Hmmmm....maybe I should consider running.)

Consider for instance a car the size and performance of a Prius, but with TDI power. Instead of getting 45 mpg in real world driving it would get more like 70, or even more if one gave up a couple seconds on the 0-60 time. Fill the tank with 50% US grown and produced vegetable oil - and the impact on foreign oil imports would be the equivalent of getting 140 mpg! Ad features such as solar charging, increased battery capacities and overnight plug ins and that figure approaches 200mpg. All with technology that is readilly available today.

Anyone else find this exciting? Catch the vision

[Derek]

This is the most exciting hybrid news I've heard. I knew that sooner or later, car companies would realize the performance potential of hybrids and that is what would drive te broadbase adoption of the technology, ultimately.

VWVortex - On a side note, since probably 90% of your members are in the U.S., it would be nice if you did the conversions from metric to english right in the story. For example: 4.2-litre FSI V8 drive unit developing 257 kW (350 bhp) and 440 Newton metres of torque. You converted the Kw to horsepower, but the torque and every other measurement and dimension in the article is metric. Ok, ok, I know the conversions, but it makes for smoother reading if I don't have to whip out the HP every fifteen seconds. Anyone else think this would be nice?

Derek

[Eric Dow]

Right on the money Brandon!!!

[navybean]

awesome. i hope it makes it to america!!!