It looks like Audi will debut its new Q5 hybrid model at this year’s upcoming Los Angeles auto show. It could be the world’s first compact hybrid SUV as it appears on the market in 2011, before the BMW ActiveHybrid X3 gets released. So far other hybrid competitors like the Volvo XC60 and the Mercedes GLK are not being developed.

The Audi Q5 hybrid technical details haven’t been released yet but it will most likely be equipped with the 2.0 TFSI engine with 211 hp, combined with an electric motor of 34 hp for a total of 245 hp. This is the same set-up that Audi used for its A8 Hybrid concept car which was presented at the last Geneva show in March, and it makes sense for Audi to adapt that system to other models. The Q5 hybrid should also share some of the same components as the A4 hybrid which will debut next year as well.

The Audi Q5 won’t be the only hybrid in the Q5 family with the SQ5 possibly adopting the Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid and Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid systems. Both of those models are powered by the 3.0 TFSI V6 with 333hp, and another 47 hp on the electric motor. We don’t expect to see an explosion of these hybrid SUVs on the market but it’s time these models had an environmental offering in the line-up.

Source | Automobile Magazine

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