Audi Releases All Information On the Plug-In Diesel-Electric Version of the Q7 eTron Quattro

Kuala Lumpur: Audi has recently released all information on its first-ever six-cylinder diesel plug-in hybrid model - the Audi Q7 eTron Quattro. The plug-in diesel-electric version of Audi Q7 was unveiled at Geneva Motor Show, earlier this year. In comparison to the 2.0 TFSI petrol-electric version of Audi Q7, the 3.0 TDI diesel engine equipped Audi Q7 eTron Quattro comes with more power and offers an additional 400km in total driving range besides carrying an exceptionally improved fuel consumption rating.

The 3.0-litre turbodiesel engine of Audi Q7 eTron Quattro produces 258hp of power and 600Nm of torque while its disc-shaped electrical motor churns out 126hp of power and 350Nm of torque, thus the combined output amounts to 373 hp and 700 Nm of torque. Sounds cool? Wait! The diesel-electric version of Audi Q7 can also make the century sprint in six seconds flat while its top speed is limited 225kmph. With an eight-speed torque converter automatic tiptronic transmission, the combined power output of Audi Q7's e-Tron 3.0L turbodiesel engine and the electric motor is distributed to all four wheels via Audi’s proprietary Quattro all-wheel drive system.

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Like the petrol-electric version of Audi Q7 e-Tron Quattro, the 17.3 kWh, liquid-cooled lithium-ion traction battery of diesel-electric hybrid is also placed just beneath the luggage compartment in the rear. Audi claims that the battery will need up to 8 hours to get fully charged on a regular household outlet, but the German automaker is yet to define the household outlet's rating, so let's assume it to be as per the European standard 220-230 volts. On a 7.2kW 'industrial outlet, the battery gets fully charged in just two and half hours and enables the vehicle to drive up 56km. Based on NEDC test cycle for hybrids, the diesel-electric version of Audi Q7 offers a good fuel efficiency of 1.7 litres/100 km whereas the petrol-electric version is much better with 2.5 litres/100 km. The carbon emissions of the diesel-electric version of Audi Q7 eTron Quattro is rated 46 g/km.

The 3.0-litre turbodiesel engine along with the electric motor offers a total driving range of 1,400 km whereas the 2.0 TFSI petrol-electric version offers a total range of 1,020 km.

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Compared with the petrol-electric version, the diesel-electric version of Audi Q7 eTron Quattro also features the same four driving modes - EV, Hybrid, Battery Charge and Battery. Also, it gets the same thermal management system for the air-conditioning. However, the MMI system of diesel plug-in hybrid has been revised to work together with the hybrid management system so that the navigation data and real-time traffic information can help in making and executing the best hybrid driving on the fly.

The advanced navigation system of the diesel plug-in hybrid model of Audi Q7 eTron Quattro empowers its front-facing camera and radar sensors to virtually “see” up to 3km ahead and warns the driver of approaching speed limits or prompt them the best time to lift off the accelerator pedal and start coasting to save fuel. The diesel-electric version of Audi Q7 eTron Quattro is also equipped with a haptic feedback accelerator pedal which delivers a pulse through the pedal to warn the driver about the combustion engine ignition.

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