Dollar halts U.S. retail sales of Audi Q7 hybrid

Audi has apparently decided that its new Q7 hybrid will not come to the U.S. after all, citing a slow economy and a weak dollar as the main culprits.

In an interview with Automotive News, Audi U.S. Executive Vice President Johan de Nysschen stated that the German automaker could not make a legitimate business case for the importation of Audi's hybrid flagship SUV on a consumer level.

He did however mention that Audi will be selling a "very low volume of cars" to the commercial market. Audi's hybrid powetrain is also a possibility for the smaller Q5 crossover scheduled for debut next year, but a hybrid Q5 would probably not a candidate for the U.S. market either.

Aud is hoping its coming 3.0-liter V-6 diesel version of the Audi Q7will help the automaker to stem the vehicles slowing sales in the U.S. There is still no official word on the price for the Q7 diesel option. De Nysschen said diesels are a more logical product to offer U.S. consumers and have a higher volume potential compared to the hybrid niche market.