Audi Q7 plug-in hybrid spied, Porsche powertrain possible

Mon, 15 Sep 2014

It's no secret that a new Audi Q7 is on the way. The replacement for the aging, three-row luxury CUV has already been spotted once, in December of 2013. Now, though, we have images of the second-generation model lapping Germany's Nürburgring Nordschleife, and it just happens to be showing a feature we reported on at the end of July – a plug-in-hybrid powertrain.

Given away by its high-voltage stickers on the window and a spare door to hide the charger – note how both the driver and passenger sides sport an access point – our spies snapped a series of photos, and put forth the compelling idea that the new Q7 would use the PHV system from the Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid.

If that's the case, that should mean at least 320 horsepower from a 3.0-liter, supercharged V6, while an electric motor chips in a further 95 ponies for a total system output of 416 hp.

As for when the first Q7 PHV could arrive, our spies claim that the new model will debut in 2015, with the Hybrid available from the start. As for when it will debut, the Geneva Motor Show is always a solid candidate, although the other big shows – Detroit, New York and Shanghai – remain possibilities. Basically, this debut is still up in the air. Should that change, though, we'll be sure to make sure you know.

By Brandon Turkus