From future products to the here and now... this is Audi’s first-ever hybrid, and Auto Express has climbed behind the wheel! The wraps were pulled off the petrol-electric Q5 at the LA Motor Show – but is it any better than a diesel?

Up front is a familiar 2.0 TFSI petrol engine, but it’s mated to an electric motor, for a total output of 241bhp and 468Nm of torque. Despite a 0-60mph time of around seven seconds, Audi claims 40.4mpg fuel economy, plus 160g/km CO2 emissions.

On the road, the Q5 feels secure and well insulated, although it lacks the dynamism of the BMW X3. But when you floor the throttle, with the engine and electric motor working in tandem the full 241bhp is available for short bursts of overtaking power.

The Q5 Hybrid quattro is clearly for markets which have yet to warm to diesel power, such as the US. It’s only as efficient as a 2.0 TDI model, and is expected to cost significantly more.

Audi is also exploring the possibilities of hydrogen fuel cells. And in another exclusive drive, we took the wheel of the Q5 HFC prototype. Here, compressed hydrogen gas from twin tanks feed a 131bhp fuel cell, which in turn keeps a bank of lithium-ion batteries topped up. These send energy to two front-mounted electric motors to produce a total of 127bhp.

The Q5 HFC is currently limited to 103mph, and it drives like an electric car – albeit with a louder whine. The car uses the same chassis as the hybrid, so it’s not out of the question for production, but it will be a long time before it hits dealers.