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2016 Audi Q7 e-tron Diesel PHEV Makes Video Debut with Electric City Driving

Audi's first-ever e-tron quattro model, based on the brand new Q7, is making its video debut today, just a few weeks after being shown at the Geneva Motor Show.
2016 Audi Q7 e-tron Diesel PHEV 1 photo
Photo: screenshot from Youtube
Once the model goes on sale in Germany, which is bound to happen very soon, this footage is likely to be used to promote it, since it shows many of the features customers will be interested in seeing.

Audi first started testing the e-tron technology many years ago with prototypes based on the old A3 and A1. After that came the first production model, which is the 204 hp A3 e-tron. But the Q7 is different in many ways. For starters, it's the first hybrid use of a TDI engine if we ignore the limited production Volkswagen XL1. It's also the first quattro e-tron model, though again we have to mention the Q5 Hybrid had AWD and electric capabilities, but no charging point.

At the core of the greenest Q7 model ever is a current generation 3.0 TDI engine making 258 HP (190 kW) that's been mated to a 94 kW electric motor built into the 8-speed tiptronic auto gearbox. If power is what you're after, it will provide you with 373 HP (275 kW) and 700 Nm (516.3 lb-ft), which is enough for 0 to 100 km/h sprints in 6 seconds.

But there are multiple driving modes available that conserve the battery or use the optimum amount of fuel. The greenest of these promises as little as 1.7 liters to be used per 100 km (138.4 mpg US) and CO2 emissions of 46 grams.

Still, it's not the only green SUV on the market, since Porsche launched the Cayenne S E-Hybrid last year, followed by the BMW X5 xDrive40e and Mercedes GLE 500e. But all of these use gasoline engines, while the Audi uses diesel.

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About the author: Mihnea Radu
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Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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