The Audi e-tron ready for order this month, with first deliveries due in March

By Gerry Murphy

They don’t use the hybrid word as a selling tool but the new Audi Q7 e-tron will be available to order in Ireland from mid-December, at a hefty price of €84,475

Audi announced this week that it will be for sale in this country and it is the second hybrid in the Audi range, the first diesel hybrid, and the first to merge plug-in hybrid technology with quattro drive.

Audi say that it will accelerate from 0-100km/h in an impressive six seconds and that the spacious five-seater SUV combines sportiness and efficiency. With an electric range of 56km and an overall range of 1,400km, the Q7 e-tron uses 1.7 litres of fuel per 100km and emits just 46g CO2 per kilometre.

The lithium ion battery, which takes 2.5 hours to charge fully, and the 3.0 TDI V6 diesel engine allow a total vehicular output of 373hp with 700NM of torque. In a world first for diesel engines, the Q7 e-tron is equipped with active engine mounts that eliminate unwanted       vibrations and enhance acoustic comfort through selective counter pulses.

They operate by utilising electromagnetic oscillation coil actuators to induce phase offset counter oscillations. The engine mounts are active while driving with the combustion engine running and at idle.

Inside, the Q7 e-tron is just as spacious and elegantly designed as the regular Q7. With five seats, a neatly contained driver cockpit and a maximum 1,835 litres of space ensures comfort and lots of elbow room for all occupants.

With the car’s thermal management system, waste heat from the electrical drive components allows the interior to warm up more quickly and enables a more efficient use of electric charge.

Audi’s Q7 has already won many awards and leads the way in technological innovation. The Q7 e-tron is a pioneering exemplar. New driver assistance systems, including collision avoidance assist and trailer assist, lend a pair of watchful eyes to the driver, while the brand’s trademark virtual cockpit and MMI touchpad, stylishly embodied in the car’s fully digital instrument cluster, allow ease of access to navigation tools, multimedia and the internet.

As standard, the Q7 e-tron comes with 20” e-tron exclusive alloy wheels, Audi’s iconic virtual cockpit and a charging cable over normal SE specification. In addition to SE, it will also be available in SE Business specification.

The Audi Q7 e-tron is available to order in mid-December, with first deliveries in March 2016.