All four feature 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine and 40km of all-electric range when they are shown at the Geneva motor show next month.
That’s quite an expansive assault…
For the first time, Audi has announced petrol-electric plug-in hybrid tech for four distinct models in one go.
Due to premiere at the next month’s Geneva motor show, the Q5, A6, A7 Sportback and A8 feature 3.0-litre V6 combustion engine mated to electric motor that can achieve 40km of all-electric range under the new WLTP mode.
Audi has also introduced a new badge strategy for its PHEVs to bring them in line with the e-tron BEVs.
The A8 L, for one, has around 450hp of power and is known as 60 TFSI e. It uses an eight-speed torque-converter automatic.
The other three employ the dual-clutch variation and come in less powerful guises. While the 55 TFSI e has around 370hp and a sportier look and chassis setup, the 50 TFSI e has a lower 300hp output with more basic looks and comfortable road manners.
This isn’t the first plug-in hybrid from Audi. It already has a diesel-electric version in the Q7, although it isn’t available in Thailand.
But isn’t Audi bypassing PHEVs in Thailand?
Initially, the Thai Audi office wants to promote BEVs before making its foray into the PHEV luxury car market now dominated by BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
Word is out that Audi will launch the e-tron SUV at the Bangkok motor show late March as the premium market’s first BEV at some 5-6 million baht apiece.
Due to the transition of measuring emissions from the NEDC to WLTP modes, it’s claimed by sources that those four PHEVs will come to Thailand late next year at the earliest or 2021 at the latest despite being available in Europe in the coming months.
In the meantime, brace for more BEVs coming from Audi like a sportier version of the e-tron and five-door fastback variant.
Audi has also confirmed this week that it will display a concept version of the Q4 e-tron in Geneva. The show car is expected to preview a smaller SUV sitting below the e-tron, as well as combustion-engined rival for the BMW X2 and Range Rover Evoque.
