- the 2021 audi a7 55 tfsi e is the plug-in-hybrid version of the a7, being offered for the first time.
- the plug-in a7 is equipped with a 14.1-kwh battery paired with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder for a combined 362 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque.
- the plug-in a7 will go on sale this fall, priced starting at $75,895.
audi revealed early last year that it was going to add a plug-in-hybrid option to several of its vehicles in the u.s.—including the q5 and a8—but it had kept us waiting on the a7. the german automaker has now divulged that the plug-in-hybrid a7 will be a 2021 model in the u.s., and it'll qualify for federal tax subsidies.
the a7 55 tfsi e churns out 362 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque from its electric motor and turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, which is 27 horsepower more and the same amount of torque compared to the v-6–powered regular a7. the hybrid's powertrain is paired with quattro all-wheel drive and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
the hybrid system in the a7 gives drivers the ability to decide where power is derived from and how much comes from either the engine or the battery. hybrid mode is activated automatically when route guidance is in use, and based on the given route, the vehicle will optimize battery and engine use to increase efficiency. in ev mode, as long as the driver doesn't accelerate too quickly, the battery powers the car exclusively; in battery hold mode, only the engine is used.
epa hasn't yet provided estimates on the efficiency and range of the a7, but the a8 plug-in hybrid, which also has a 14.1-kwh lithium-ion battery pack but also a more powerful internal-combustion engine, has an epa-estimated 17 miles of electric-only range and 54 mpge. the a7 comes equipped with a standard sae j1772 connector; charging figures are yet to be released.
the plug-in-hybrid a7 comes standard with an s line exterior, which includes a sportier front fascia, a leather interior, and four-zone automatic air conditioning. the hybrid can be had in either premium plus or prestige trim levels, but not the base premium version of the standard a7, which means that its starting price is $5700 higher than the nonhybrid option.
the a7 55 tfsi e in premium plus trim starts at $75,895, or just over $500 more than the nonhybrid a7. the prestige trim, starting at $81,245, is just under $2000 more than its internal-combustion counterpart. when the federal tax credit of up to $6712 is taken into account, the plug-in a7 becomes cheaper. the a7 55 tfsi e is set to go on sale in the u.s. this fall.