2015 Audi Q7 to get an electric turbocharger

While the concept of electric power being used in a car used to bring up the image of a boring hybrid car to our minds, BMW, Porsche, Ferrari and McLaren proved that electric motors can also make the cars more exciting. Now, it has been revealed that the next-generation Audi Q7 will also get electric boost, courtesy an electric turbocharger which will be a first in this segment.

Turbo-lag is one of the biggest grouses of turbochargers, which is eliminated in supercharger. But being driven by the crank, a supercharger significantly increases fuel consumption. Using electric power for turbochargers will eliminate the turbo-lag to a large extent as well as reduce fuel consumption.

Audi has been experimenting with electric turbochargers for quite some time now. The technology in its latest avatar was previewed recently in the RS5 TDI concept which featured an electrically assisted twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre diesel V6.

During an interview with Drive at the LeMans 24 Hours race in France, Audi’s head of diesel engine development, Ulrich Weiss, revealed that they have been working on the development of the e-boost and that the technology will debut early next year.  

The Q7 will be based on Volkswagen group’s Modular Longitudinal Matrix Evo (MLB) platform, which will help shave of around 350kgs from the previous car. The new Q7 will be slightly more premium than the current model and as such, the price is also expected to be on higher side than the current car. The Q7 competes with other premium SUVs like BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GL, Porsche Cayenne and Toyota Land Cruiser.