Audi to launch Q5 & A8 PHEVs in the USA

Audi is bringing two plug-in hybrid models to the US market, the Q5 SUV and A8 flagship in the coming months. The carmaker says they come “at a competitive price point,” the Q5 plug-in hybrid especially.

For Audi, the Q5 TFSI e is the first time to offer the bestselling SUV as a plug-in hybrid in the USA. The TFSI title indicates the standard gasoline drive while the e stands for its combination with standard quattro all-wheel drive additionally powered by an electric motor.

The e-drive offers three modes for range-conscious driving The Hybrid mode comes as default and optimises battery/fuel use according to route data from the navigation system. Fuel consumption is calculated using various data points, including speed limits, types of roads, and data from onboard sensors. The SUV automatically starts in EV mode, at least as long as the driver does not push down the pedal “past a variable, perceptible pressure point,” says Audi. In electric-only mode, the Audi Q5 TFSI e has a range of 20 miles using a 14.1 kWh lithium-ion battery. This range can be slightly stretched in Battery Hold mode, that holds the battery capacity at the current level.

The figures must be EPA measures as Audi recently stated a range of “more than 40 km according to WLTP when launching the model in Europe.

In the US, the Audi PHEV SUV will start at an MRSP of $52,900, excluding destination charge ($995).

The A8 TFSI e will join the Audi Q5 TFSI e in the coming months. The A8 flagship will have a much higher price: $85,200 (MRSP) for the plug-in hybrid with automatic transmission. Again, price excludes destination charge ($995), taxes, title, other options and dealer charges.

The recently presented A8 L 60 TFSI e quattro offers 330 kW system power and a purely electric range of up to 46 kilometres (WLTP). Audi here combines a 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine with the electric drive in the A8. The combustion engine (Euro 6d-temp) has an output of 250 kW, and the electric motor contributes up to 100 kW.

Audi suggests that the PHEVs will be eligible for grants.

audiusa.com (A8 PHEV), audiusa.com (Q5 PHEV)