bluestraveller

The last issue of car and driver (April?) had a good review of the Touareg Hybrid, and the latest issue that arrived yesterday had a comparo of the hybrid versus tdi touareg.
The hybrid power train looks extremely sophisticated. If Audi can pull off a weight reduction + hybrid for the 2012 model (like what Porsche did with the Cayenne) they're going to have another jump in Q7 sales.

PARealtor

a lighter q7 and either a hybrid engine or whats in there now would be killer combo

bluestraveller

I went and read the VW Touareg Hybrid vs TDI review in detail. Interestingly the hybrid offers less mpg than the TDI model (esp highway where the gap is a staggering 4 MPG). However the hybrid is faster 0-60 and more fun to drive due to the rev happy engine...not sure I'd pay another 4K bucks for the hybrid instead of the TDI

jetinder

The last I heard, either the 2012 or 2013 model is supposed to be at least 400 kg lighter. I'm seeing my dealer today, maybe he'll have some news for the 2012 model range.

With the A7 and A6 already using more aluminium, I'd say the manufacturing costs of using it are coming down (basic economies of scale I guess). So it's not surprising the weight of the Q7 can be dramatically reduced.

Makes for good times ahead ;-)

My wifes 3.0TDI could certainly do with a diet (a bit like me!).

Jet

iconoclast

the q7 will be lighter, about 400lbs lighter... any savings in fuel from being lighter will be offset in an increase in your insurance premium because of all the aluminum. only people benefiting from this is audi and alcoa. audi gets to sell a lighter suv with better mpg numbers alcoa gets to sell more aluminum to audi.