Audi Q5 Hybrid coming in 2011
Audi is to release a Q5 Hybrid in 2011, together with a total of 8 new models in the next five years, including the A1, A2, A7, Q3, Q1 and R8 Spyder.
Audi is one of the few car makers managing to keep doing good business during the downturn in car sales worldwide. The quality of its product – and the enormous range of models they have available – has obviously helped, but so too has the fact that they are keeping on pushing forward, rather than battening down the hatches and trying to ride the storm.
And that policy of pushing forward has been reinforced with the news that Audi are to invest €7.3 billion over the next two years to develop new technology and add new models to the range. The stated aim is to increase the current model line-up from 34 to 42 models in the next five years.
Four of those new models we already know about – the A1, A7, A8 and R8 Spyder – and all will be released during 2010. But one that has been rumoured – but never confirmed – is the Audi Q5 Hybrid, which Audi say will be revealed by the end of 2010 and go on sale in 2011.
Audi are giving nothing away on what will power the Q5 Hybrid, so we’ll have to wait and see. There is already suitable hybrid technology available from both Porsche and VW that would fit the Q5, but we may well see something new from Audi. No doubt we’ll get more detail in the coming months.
So that’s five of the eight planned models for the next five years confirmed. But what of the others? It’s arguable that Audi has already covered every imaginable niche, and every niche within a niche. But we’re likely to see an Audi Q3 in the next couple of years and, with the launch of the Audi A1 next year, there’s every chance Audi will try to out-MINI MINI, so we could well see a 4×4 version of the A1 – The Audi Q1 – surfacing to take on the MINI Countryman. We will also see the Audi A2 moniker revived.
That’s the eight new Audi models. But we could yet see a surprise or two from Audi.
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