Audi ready to plug in to the hybrid saloon and SUV market

Following a week in which Audi confirmed that it would, at long last, produce an oft-promised all-electric version of its R8 super car (below), Ingolstadt's technology chief Ulrich Hackenberg has confirmed that part-electric drivetrains are about to become a lot more common at Audi.

Speaking to Indian Auto Blog, Dr Hackenberg confirmed that plug-in hybrid versions of the next-generation A6 saloon, A7 coupe and Q7 SUV will all be offered, but he stopped short of confirming rumours of a Q8-badged all-electric SUV to rival the incoming Tesla Model X.

Audi has been stung by rival BMW's recent move into electric and part-electric models with its i-range, and it has been rumoured that a reluctance to embrace batteries was what triggered the dismissal of Hackenberg's predecessor, Wolfgang Durheimer.