US Audi dealers learn that Q7 TDI, Q5 hybrid are on the way

Following the meeting of the Audi Dealer Council at last weekend's National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) convention, Audi dealer Joel Weinberger spilled some product beans to Automotive News. First up is information we already know, a diesel version of the big Q7 SUV is coming around the end of this year. The Q7 is based on the same platform as the Volkswagen Touareg, and production of the Touareg TDI with a 3.0L V-6 diesel kicks off in November. The Q7 diesel should launch around the same time. A hybrid version of the Q7 will follow at an undetermined date, thought to be in the first half of 2009. Later this year Q7 will get a little sibling in the shape of the VW Tiguan based Q5. The powertrain sequence for the Q5 will be reversed, with a hybrid launching first. A diesel will come later, with timing perhaps based on the market acceptance of other diesel models in the VW/Audi lineup. Weinberger didn't say anything about hybrid pricing but indicated that the diesel would command the same $2,000 premium that VW will be asking for its diesel models.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. req'd]