An electric supercharger with 48V power supply topped up by regenerative braking is just one of the features of the Audi SQ7, due out in Europe before the end of this year, and probably available here in 2017.

The monster-power SUV is aimed fairly and squarely at Mercedes-Benz’s muscle-power twin-turbo V8 4.4-litre AMG GLE and BMW’s X5 M models, and although details are still scant, it would appear that Audi will slot in its V8 TDI motor (with twin turbo-chargers), and add in the electric supercharger, to give immediate response and absolutely no lag. Power output, according to leading US magazine Car and Driver, would be around 336kW, with more than 800Nm of torque.

The design follows closely on the RS5 prototype shown recently, and the technology will no doubt be extended to other models in the Audi range, although it IS expensive, thanks to the added complexity of the 48V system.

More details will, no doubt, be revealed soon.