Audi Q5, A6, A7 and A8 plug in

The first plug-in hybrid versions of the Audi Q7, A6, A7 and A8 have been simultaneously revealed, each capable of driving up to 40km on electric power alone.

At this stage none of the 'TFSI e' petrol-electric PHEV models have been confirmed for Australia, where Audi is focussed on releasing the purely battery-powered SUV dubbed e-tron – the name Audi will use for its all-electric models – in the second half of this year.

But Audi Australia spokesman Shaun Cleary made it clear that both pure-electric e-tron and plug-in hybrid TFSI e models were under consideration for the local market, as part of the German car-maker’s commitment to release 20 electrified models by 2025, including 12 full EVs and five SUVs.

“We see the future opportunities for these models because they fit our overall strategy,” he told carsales.com.au.

“We’re evaluating them in the current context and in possible future market conditions, so they’re not confirmed because the focus is on e-tron, which will come first.”

Similarly, Clearly said only one full-electric e-tron model is locked in for Australia – the SUV of the same name by the end of 2019 – but that others were “on the radar”.

These include the Audi e-tron GT sports car and, perhaps, the small battery-powered Q4 e-tron SUV based on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB EV platform and set to debut in concept form at next month’s Geneva motor show.

“Our priority is on e-tron, so if they [the TFSI e PHEV models] came here they would be after that. All e-trons are on our radar but only the e-tron SUV is confirmed. [e-tron] GT and others are further away.”

Barriers to the release of electrified Audi models beyond the German brand’s e-tron SUV flag-bearer are cost and the lack of Australian government incentives and nationwide fast-charging infrastructure.

The latter will be boosted by the opening of Australia’s largest ultra-rapid EV charging network later this year, courtesy of Chargefox.

In the meantime, the four Audi TFSI e production models that will debut at Geneva alongside the Q4 e-tron will be launched in Europe in two states of tune.

All four PHEV models pair a turbocharged petrol engine with a 14.1kWh lithium-ion battery pack and the same electric motor, and all are claimed to deliver at least 40km of EV range based on the WLTP testing regime.

For the long-wheelbase Audi A8 L TFSI e quattro, the synchronous electric motor is integrated with the clutch inside the eight-speed automatic transmission, while the motor in the Q5, A6 and A7 TFSI e is integrated within a dual-clutch gearbox.

Each PHEV model offers Auto and Efficiency modes in which the vehicle can coast at speeds under 160km/h with the petrol engine off and decoupled from the electric motor while it converts kinetic energy into electrical power.

Audi says its new PHEV models can recover up to 80kW of energy while braking and that battery charging can take as little as two hours with a 7.2kW power outlet.