Audi exec confirms A4 hybrid in 2.5 - 3 years

The guys over at Inside Line had the pleasure to sit down with Wolfgang Hatz, Audi’s head of powertrain development, at the launch of the new Audi A4. Hatz, who is also known as ‘Mr. Engine,’ is well known for his work on the E30 BMW M3, Porsche’s F1 program, as well as his work at Alfa Romeo and Ferrari.

According to the Hatz, the significance of the A4 model is very critical to Audi’s lineup. “The A4 is the heart of Audi. If it doesn’t work, the company will die. It’s as simple as that,” Hatz told Inside Line.

Hatz went onto confirm that Audi will be introducing an...
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Catsmeow - 11/26/2007 10:32:27 AM

+1 Boost

i'd get one of these

EL34 - 11/26/2007 12:29:15 PM

-2 Boost

Anything to save the planet from Global Warming!

Lexus - 11/26/2007 5:51:07 PM

-1 Boost

Where is S4, what do you have to said bro? ha..ha..ha..ha....Audi is now copying Toyota and Lexus in making hybrid vechicles. Ha..ha..ha...LOL

ha..ha..ha...it feel good to see the German are finally realize the potential of hybrid system. BMW, MB and Porsche are still struggling to make their hybrid vechicles.

S4cabriofoxone - 11/26/2007 10:13:01 PM

0 Boost

"Where is S4, what do you have to said bro?"

I DON'T want it, and I DON'T approve. Give me an A4 3.0TDI any day of the week. Inherently superior.

For further evidence that Audi honestly IS doing it for the money/image but don't take hybrids seriously, read this article:

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Features/articleId=123455?tid=edmunds.il.home.photopanel..2.*

S4cabriofoxone - 11/27/2007 11:40:40 PM

+1 Boost

"it's like the republicans not approving of anything democrats propose just because they are democrats"

FYI, I'm a donkey and proud of it, but this isn't the place for a political discussion.

The basic hybrid principle annoys me. It is NOT any improvement besides in mileage. It still uses the same fuel we've always used, but Toyota has hyped it like the second coming of the car Messiah. It is not a sustainable technology. Why not just make cars that are purely electric? Or hydrogen, like Honda? Or even clean diesels! They won't even have to run on diesel fuel much longer.

So in short, I don't like hybrids. I don't like Honda hybrids, I don't like Toyota hybrids, I don't like BMW hybrids, I don't like Audi hybrids, I don't like Porsche hybrids, I don't like Cadillac hybrids...

Diesels just make so much sense to me. Who could argue with massive amounts of torque coupled with amazing fuel efficiency? The A5 3.0TDI gets from 0-60mph in six seconds or less and still gets 40MPG+.

Lexus - 11/26/2007 5:57:21 PM

0 Boost

I'm sure Audi is doing it to safe the Planet, NOT for the $$$$ right? right ;)

Lexus

t_bone - 11/26/2007 8:42:01 PM

+1 Boost

This is cool. Actually Audi, with its AWD tradition, could uniquely benefit from this if they take the time to do it right. Which is to say they can eliminate the front or the rear drivetrain (pros and cons to each), and replace with pure-electric on those wheels. This will offset the battery/drivetrain weight a bit and add some interesting stability options as well.

Hopefully BMW and Mercedes won't be too far behind, and of course a diesel hybrid would truly be a rocking torque-monster!

S4cabriofoxone - 11/27/2007 11:42:34 PM

+1 Boost

Yes, the LS600hL is beautiful. It's luxurious, stylish and great to be driven in.

But I DON'T WANT ONE and I would never buy one. Why? It's not a smart decision. It gets the same mileage and slightly worse performance as/than the LS460L, for $35K more. Taken by itself, if the LS460 didn't exist, the LS600hL would be great. But there it is, Lexus's standard eight-cylinder flagship sedan... upstaging its hybrid cousin in every conceivable field.