Audi's Hybrids Bite the Dust

Audi has postponed plans to design hybrid models for the next few years, but no reason for this decision was actually provided. The Q5 was the first model in Audi's lineup to get a hybrid variant, after the German carmaker announced in July that Q7 won't receive the hybrid version. According to Autocar, Audi said a few months ago that it cancels the Q7 hybrid in order to concentrate on more efficient diesel engines and reducing total weight of the current models.

Although the German manufacturer hasn't said a thing about the Q5, Audi's representatives explained the hybrid research and development plans were discontinued for the time being, until they really design a safer environment for violent impacts.

“Audi won’t produce a petrol-electric hybrid until we can make nickel metal hydride batteries safer in crash situations, and hybrid technology more efficient overall. Until then we will concentrate on producing more efficient diesel engines and aluminium chassis,” Autocar reported quoting senior sources close to the hybrid development.

Until Audio actually comes with a hybrid variant, an upgraded version of Q5 is likely to arrive in the near future, featuring a stop-start system combined with a bunch of newly-designed fuel-saving technologies. This is somehow a response to BMW's EfficientDynamics technology, Autocar wrote, but without a specific name. The new fuel-saving technology may be rolled out on the Audi A1 supermini, scheduled for launch in 2010, the aforementioned source added.

On the other hand, Audi aims to bring various new innovations at the Detroit Auto Show held in January 2009. For instance, the 525-horsepower R8 sports car, a diesel variant of the A4 sport sedan and an Audi A7 concept are likely to be showcased at the forthcoming event in Detroit.