Diesel engines are still considered one of the best options by many European car makers to achieve ultra-low emissions and excellent fuel economy, but hybrid and electric cars are increasingly on the agenda.
Audi is one of the companies that had been shunning hybrids in favour of super-clean diesel engines, with rumours that Audi had put its entire hybrid product development cycle on hold until it could improve the efficiency of its battery packs.
However news has come to light that indicates Audi is back on the hybrid bandwagon after Wolfgang Hatz, Audi's chief of powertrain development, implied that his company needs a hybrid to improve its image.
The German prestige brand is still convinced that diesel is a better alternative but Mr Hatz was quoted saying that Audi will build hybrids "in order to show people that we are able to do them."
As such, the hybrid technology employed by Audi -- at least initially -- is likely to be low level technology, expected to make use of cheaper and less effective nickel-metal hydride battery packs instead of the more advanced lithium-ion.
The first vehicles to make use of this hybrid technology are likely to be the A4 sedan and Q5 SUV in late 2010.
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