Audi stops worrying and learns to love the plug: A6, A8, Q7 plug-in hybrids coming

By Stephen Edelstein Published March 13, 2014

Audi is known for its fuel-efficient TDI diesel models, but that may not be the only green technology the German carmaker is interested in.

According to Indian Autos Blog, Audi plans to add several plug-in hybrid models to its lineup over the next few years.

Recommended Videos

In addition to the upcoming A3 Sportback e-tron and a rumored A4 plug-in, the company is reportedly planning plug-in versions of the next A6, A8, and Q7 to meet stricter emissions regulations.

A redesigned Q7 is due next year, so it will be the first of Audi’s larger models to receive a plug-in powertrain. Details of that powertrain are nonexistent, and it’s possible Audi might hold it until after the rest of the Q7 range debuts.

However, if the A3 Sportback e-tron is any indication, future Audi plug-in hybrids may not totally ignore performance. The A3’s 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine and electric motor produce 204 horsepower, a decent amount of power for a small hatchback.

All this indicates that Audi has stopped worrying and learned to love the plug.

Audi has shown little interest in electrified cars until recently, preferring to promote its diesels instead. The expansion of its plug-in hybrid lineup – along with the resurrection of the R8 e-tron electric supercar and rumors of a Q8 e-tron electric SUV – mark a complete change of direction.

With every luxury carmaker from Mercedes-Benz to Rolls-Royce considering more electrification to meet stricter global emissions standards, it may prove to be a smart move.

Stephen Edelstein

Former Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

Cars

Volvo’s purported EX50 could be the budget-friendly plot twist nobody saw coming

Volvo's next electric SUV could shake up the EX lineup with more room and a smaller price tag.

Volvo’s electric lineup needed a genuinely affordable entry point, and a new report suggests that buyers might actually get one.

According to a new Automotive News report, Volvo is quietly working on a compact electric crossover, called the EX50. It will be aimed at replacing the dated EX40 in the US sometime in 2027.

Cars

Xiaomi just launched an SUV with seven seats and a bedroom upstairs

Xiaomi’s SkyNomad SUV could replace your car, office, lounge, and tent

Skynomad

Xiaomi’s new family SUV is basically a house on wheels with enough claimed range to cover more than 1,000 miles. It also costs considerably less than its outlandish feature list might suggest. The company has officially launched the SkyNomad N90 Max in China for 299,900 yuan, equivalent to roughly $44,400 through direct conversion.

Preorders are open now, with the first vehicles expected to reach customers in September. The converted figure provides useful context, though it does not represent pricing outside China. Xiaomi describes the seven-seat flagship as a “house you can move.” This unusually grand pitch starts making sense once you see what happens inside.

Cars

Mazda chief says the MX-5 Miata could go electric

2019 Mazda Mazda3 AWD review

For years, the idea of an electric Mazda MX-5 Miata felt almost impossible. The little roadster has always been celebrated for one thing above everything else: keeping things light. Add a heavy battery pack into the equation, and many enthusiasts assumed the Miata's trademark driving character would disappear along with it.

Mazda, however, appears to have changed its mind. In an interview with German publication auto motor und sport, Mazda CEO Masahiro Moro confirmed that the next-generation MX-5 is being developed with the possibility of an all-electric version in mind. It doesn't mean the iconic roadster is abandoning gasoline anytime soon. Still, it does suggest Mazda wants the Miata to survive in a future where internal combustion engines may no longer be an option.