Audi boss confirms Q7 e-tron ahead of new generation in 2015

The Audi e-tron family is set to expand with the Audi Q7 next to utilise electric motor technology.

Speaking at the launch of the brand�??s first local advertising campaign tagged �??land of quattro�??, Audi Australia managing director Andrew Doyle confirmed that a Q7 e-tron model will be shown before the six-year-old current generation is replaced in late 2015.

Audi has previously shown the A1 e-tron concept �?" which utilised a rotary-powered engine in tandem with an electric motor �?" and more recently the production A3 e-tron, which will be the first e-tron model to arrive in Australia sometime next year.

While the A3 e-tron, shown at the 2013 Geneva motor show, combines a 110kW 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine with a 75kW electric motor to claim just 1.5L/100km, Doyle wouldn�??t confirm what powertrain combination the Q7 e-tron would use.

�??We have a plan going forward for e-tron,�?� told Doyle. �??It will be rolled out across all the models now�?��?�

This is despite Audi�??s recent decision to ditch the R8 e-tron flagship, something the local MD says is �??a question of having the right product available at the right time when the market�??s ready for it,�?� implicitly hinting that the supercar market may not be ready for an all-electric supercar.

�??I don�??t see it [R8 e-tron] as a major thing for us. We�??ll launch [locally] with A3, followed by Q7�?��?�

Asked whether Audi will wait until the next-generation Q7 to introduce an e-tron petrol-electric version, Doyle replied �??I think it�??s this generation.�?�

Although Doyle confirmed that the next Q7 will continue to share its platform with the Volkswagen Touareg and Porsche Cayenne, he �??couldn�??t answer�?� why the Audi version would not be released until 2015 when its near-twin siblings switched to their respective new-generation models last year.

�??The mid-life improvement was quite substantial, but otherwise there�??s no real reason [for the delay],�?� added the local MD.

�??It [Q7] is still doing quite well actually, worldwide and in Australia.�?�

Where the Audi Q5 outsells its BMW X3 arch rival in the medium SUV segment, the Q7 lags behind its BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz ML-Class competitors in the large SUV class.

This is something Doyle hopes will change with the 2015 new-generation model.

�??The new one will give that [title] a good chance,�?� he said.

�??It was our first foray into SUV with Q7 so �?� I think the second model lifecycle will give it a good shake I reckon.

�??We�??re looking forward to getting it�?�.