Audi to make hybrid version of Q5

At least for Japan

The Audi Q5 will come in a hybrid version, according to Green Car Congress, at least for the Japanese market. Still, the new hybrid isn't expected until at least 2012.

Audi's Mr. Engine pooh-poohs hybrid vehicles

First US Audi hybrids about 3 years away

If it were up to Audi's executive director of engine and powertrain technology for the Volkswagen Group, Wolfgang Hatz, Audi would probably never make any hybrid vehicles.

"Hybrid technology is a very expensive way to save a small amount of fuel. The cost/benefit analysis is quite on the expensive side, but we're politically pressed to develop hybrids by the U.S. market," Hatz recently told InsideLine.

"If someone said that every car must be a hybrid, the car industry would be bankrupt quicker than anything else. Even Toyota would have problems if they had to produce hybrids in high volumes. But politically we have to do a certain amount of hybrids."

While also admitting that diesel hybrid vehicles were the best course if purely considering fuel economy, Mr. Hatz, again, focused on expense.

Audi Q7 hybrid coming in 2008

Last week Audi displayed a 12-cylinder diesel vehicle at the Detroit Auto Show. I didn't care. Fortunately, Audi will tame the Q7 to a V-6 TDI version for the U.S. market, and a hybrid version according to AutoWeek. While there are few details of the hybrid that is expected to hit the American market in 2008, Audi is not excited about hybrids. "It is no secret by now that we are not that ecstatic about hybrids, it is just one of those things we have to do," stated Johan de Nysschen, executive vice president in charge of Audi.