The future of mobility

In the first quarter of 2018, the eagerly awaited Audi Q7 e-tron quattro will make its Australian debut, joining the Audi A3 e-tron which has been available Down Under since 2015. 

This full-sized SUV boasts all of the luxury features and performance that has made the Q7 such a tremendous success internationally, but the attributes of a plug-in hybrid vehicle are a game changer that brings a completely new dimension to mobility.

The Audi Q7 e-tron quattro, combines a 3.0-litre TDI engine producing 190kW and 600Nm of torque, while the addition of an electric motor developing 94kW and 350Nm give the Q7 e-tron a combined system output of 275kW and a massive 700Nm of torque. This makes the Q7 e-tron quattro the most powerful model in the Q7 line-up with the exception of the SQ7 quattro.

Performance is impressive, with a 0 to 100km/h time of just 6.2 seconds and a top speed of 230km/h, yet economy is of equal importance and equally impressive, using just 1.9L/100km and producing just 49g of CO2 per kilometre. 

More impressive still, the Q7 e-tron quattro can travel up to 56km on purely electric power – more than any competitors in class –  producing zero emissions and yet still boasts a top speed in electric mode of up to 135km/h. This range is more than enough to satisfy the daily needs of most customers engaged in the daily commute to work and performing tasks locally. Come the weekend though or the need for a longer trip and the presence of the 3.0-litre TDI engine is on hand.

It is this seamless transition from fully electric to hybrid drive that makes the such a versatile and cutting edge vehicle.

This is made possible through the use of a 17.3kWh lithium-ion battery system, which like the A3 e-tron is stored conveniently out of the way under the rear luggage compartment floor. Safety is of course of paramount importance so both the battery and the integration in the vehicle have been designed in such a way that the battery is protected in the event of a crash. In addition, in the event of a collision, the high-voltage system is instantly disabled and the battery immediately disconnected from the electrical system. Thus the high-voltage components including the cables are de-energised in such an event for maximum safety to occupants.

Charging of the battery is likewise a simple, safe operation that can be performed using industrial or household power systems. Depending on the industrial power output, the battery can be fully charged in as little as 2.5 hours, while a domestic system will achieve full charge in 10 hours. 

Q7 e-tron customers, like the existing A3 e-tron customers already enjoying the advantages of  hybrid technology, can have charging equipment set up at their home or place of work by a dedicated Audi partner that not only installs and maintains the relevant equipment, but provides expert advice and service to ensure ease of operation and seamless backup whenever required. 

Installing charging equipment at home or at work is a simple and safe process that does not require large amounts of space for charging equipment. Even in situations where space is at a premium, Audi’s dedicated partners are expert in the installation and maintenance of this equipment which, once in place is as intuitive as any other Audi system to use.

Of course the Q7 e-tron is also able to generate and store electricity whilst in use, thus maximising the vehicle’s efficiency and increasing the electric range. For example, using the recuperation mode, energy is recovered as soon as the accelerator pedal is released, while under braking, the friction brake as well as the electrified drivetrain absorb the braking energy in order to recover and store a large part of the kinetic energy, and then to use that energy during the journey. The eight-speed tiptronic transmission provides a further efficiency with the inclusion of a coasting mode which enables the engine to switch to idle when the accelerator is released and continue to coast without decelerating, until the accelerator is pressed again. 

What’s most impressive about these and other efficiency technologies employed in the Q7 e-tron quattro is the absence of intrusion on the driver and passengers. While efficiencies are real, there is no compromise to the performance of the vehicle, the transition from fully electric and back to hybrid drive is seamless – plugging in the vehicle to charge at the end of the day or at work, the only tangible difference from conventional vehicle operation. 

The new Audi Q7 e-tron quattro is expected to arrive in Australia in the first quarter of 2018.