Audi won't import Q7 Hybrid
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Audi won't import Q7 Hybrid
The weak dollar has claimed another victim: The Audi Q7 hybrid crossover won't be sold in the United States.
Johan de Nysschen, head of the Audi brand in the United States, said Audi could not make a business case for the electric/gasoline engine hybrid. The hybrid was scheduled for launch in early 2009, soon after the diesel Q7 goes on sale.
"If you look at the way the economics are going, it was a very hard car to make the numbers work," de Nysschen said in an interview at the New York auto show.
De Nysschen said a few Q7 hybrids will be available in the United States for the "commercial" market but would not elaborate.
"We will not do the hybrid Q7 as a conventional product offering," de Nysschen said. "We will have a very low volume of cars available."
The more likely hybrid candidate will be the smaller Q5 crossover, which debuts in the United States next year.
"That hybrid has always been in planning. The question is, again, volume potential," de Nysschen said. "We in the U.S. are more enthusiastic about diesels. Hybrids have a niche in this market. We are a small company and ask ourselves if we need to be in every niche."
Audi isn't disclosing the price of the Q7's diesel option. The diesel is expected to boost sales of the Q7, which have slumped in recent months. Through February, sales were 2,339, down 30.9 percent from the first two months of 2007.
The A4 compact diesel is likely to get the green light for the United States; board approval is pending. The diesel wouldn't go on sale until well after the Q7 diesel debuts because additional engineering has to be done for the United States, said de Nysschen. "We also haven't decided whether we do the V-6 or the four-cylinder diesel," he said, "so it will take some time."
Johan de Nysschen, head of the Audi brand in the United States, said Audi could not make a business case for the electric/gasoline engine hybrid. The hybrid was scheduled for launch in early 2009, soon after the diesel Q7 goes on sale.
"If you look at the way the economics are going, it was a very hard car to make the numbers work," de Nysschen said in an interview at the New York auto show.
De Nysschen said a few Q7 hybrids will be available in the United States for the "commercial" market but would not elaborate.
"We will not do the hybrid Q7 as a conventional product offering," de Nysschen said. "We will have a very low volume of cars available."
The more likely hybrid candidate will be the smaller Q5 crossover, which debuts in the United States next year.
"That hybrid has always been in planning. The question is, again, volume potential," de Nysschen said. "We in the U.S. are more enthusiastic about diesels. Hybrids have a niche in this market. We are a small company and ask ourselves if we need to be in every niche."
Audi isn't disclosing the price of the Q7's diesel option. The diesel is expected to boost sales of the Q7, which have slumped in recent months. Through February, sales were 2,339, down 30.9 percent from the first two months of 2007.
The A4 compact diesel is likely to get the green light for the United States; board approval is pending. The diesel wouldn't go on sale until well after the Q7 diesel debuts because additional engineering has to be done for the United States, said de Nysschen. "We also haven't decided whether we do the V-6 or the four-cylinder diesel," he said, "so it will take some time."
http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dl...7167/1530/FREE
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From: A better place
Looks like Audi is too greedy to take a loss selling the hybrid Q7 here, despite the high possibility that the hybrid Q7 could boost Audi's reputation in North America.
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Lead Lap
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From: MD
Absolutely. I believe that any company that comes out with a hybrid right now can expect a boost in sales. Versus offering diesels which are becoming less favorable at the moment cause of the outrageous fuel prices.
Lexus Test Driver
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From: GA
This is a terrible desicion. I for one know two people, my wife and a co worker who are waiting for an alternative to a luxury SUV that is a hybrid besides the Lexus RX. Specifically the Q7. Now that leaves Audi out of the mix in every category of car we would consider getting. I think this is a bad move on their part.
especially on suv, if there is improvement in gas mileage, people will pay
Lexus Test Driver
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From: NV
"That hybrid has always been in planning. The question is, again, volume potential," de Nysschen said. "We in the U.S. are more enthusiastic about diesels."
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They have their heads up their ***. Diesal gas is at an all time high. In some places a full DOLLAR more than regular gas.
America just doesn't like diesels so why force them on us? They like hybrids and instead of giving us another option, they want to send us a damn diesel.
America just doesn't like diesels so why force them on us? They like hybrids and instead of giving us another option, they want to send us a damn diesel.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: none
and yet Audi has THREE SUVs to split the cost of the hybrid drivetrain - Q7, Cayenne and Touareg. So what about the Cayenne Hybrid that's supposed to come in 2010. Is Porsche (VW) gonna dump that too?
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