Audi Q5 Hybrid For 2011

Audi's Q5 SUV looks like it will finally be getting its long rumored/hoped for hybrid treatment, and it should be hitting the roads and dealer showrooms by 2011. Of course, since the Q5 shares its platform with its corporate siblings the Volkswagen Touareg and the Porsche Cayenne, this could have some interesting implications there as well.

Given the current economic climate, a Q5 Hybrid form Audi could even further enhance the German carmakers bottom line. During the recent economic downturn, one of the few automakers that have been able to turn a profit has been the Volkswagen Group. And among VW's various brands, Audi is doing particularly well.

Currently, Audi is still planning on dropping some serious coin on new models as well as redesigning some of their current line up. Audi will spend €7.9 billion over the next three years for vehicles like the new A8 as well as the new A1, A7, A6 and the R8 spyder.

Also included in that nearly 8 billion Euros worth of spending is long anticipated hybrid Q5. The hybrid SUV has been rumored and bouncing around the net for what seems like years, but now it seems to be finally on the horizon. At first, Audi was going with a hybrid A4, but the changed plans so that the Q5 would get the treatment.

Most likely taking its official bow a year from now at the LA Auto Show the Q5 hybrid will probably be on sale in the first part of 2011. Tech-wise, the Q5 will use a lithium ion battery pack. The rest of the hybrid hardware will, surprise, surprise, be based on the VW Touareg and Porsche Cayenne hybrids.

The VW Touareg and Porsche Cayenne hybrids will start production early in 2010, but all that little tid-bit does is raise lots of questions. For example, why is the Audi version taking so long? The answer could be that Audi is doing so well, sales-wise, in comparison to Volkswagen and Porsche, that it could afford to wait to bring a hybrid into the product line-up.

Source: AutoBlogGreen