The decision, first reported by European car magazine Autocar, was made because Audi thinks hybrid systems are more sensible in smaller vehicles and because it wants to introduce the vehicle with lithium-ion batteries instead of nickel-metal hydride batteries.
Nickel-metal hydride batteries are used in hybrid vehicles today while lithium-ion batteries remain under development for the automotive industry.
"We feel that lithium-ion is a more advanced and more efficient technology," said Audi spokesman Jeff Kuhlman. "It's obviously not ready for market introduction yet. But we intend to pursue that as our hybrid battery technology."
Audi had said it would introduce the Q7 Hybrid during the fourth quarter of this year.
The Q7 is longer, wider and taller than the sporty Q5, which is to go on sale early next year. There is no official timeframe for the Q5 hybrid, but Autocar speculated it could debut in 2010.
By developing a hybrid system for the Q5 first, Audi will be able to easily adapt the system for its A4 and A5 sedans.
"We've been working on hybrid development for a while, but as we looked at where the global market opportunity is, it's with a Q5-size vehicle, not a Q7-size vehicle," Kuhlman said.
Audi still plans to introduce a diesel version of the Q7 in the United States during the first quarter of 2009.
Contact BRENT SNAVELY at 313-222-6512 or bsnavely@freepress.com.
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