Audi's first hybrid leaked before LA show (video)

Rather than waiting until the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show to reveal it's first production hybrid, Audi released near full specs and video clips of its soon-to-be released 2011 Q5 Hybrid Quattro SUV.

The Q5 Hybrid Quattro promises the power of a V6 and the fuel consumption of a four-cylinder from its 2.0 TFSI engine and electric motor. Combined, the gasoline engine and electric motor deliver 245-horsepower yet achieve an estimated 33.6 mpg--around the same fuel economy as a Volkswagen Golf.

It may be one of the last manufacturers to add a hybrid to its lineup, but Audi's showing showing some of the most advanced hybrid technology on the market. The Q5 Hybrid can operate in EV-only mode while driving up 62 mph--the highest electric-only top speed for a hybrid . The EV-only range is less impressive: on a full battery, the Q5 can travel only 1.86 miles at 37 mph, similar to existing cars such as the Ford Fusion Hybrid and the Toyota Prius.

The 2011 Q5 Hybrid will be outfitted with Audi's latest telematics system using 3-dimensional Google Earth navigation and internet connectivity for other Google services, such as news and search. There's also hot spot connectivity for up to eight devices, so whatever the navigation can't deliver, your iPad can. The price for all this technology was one of the few details not revealed by the manufacturer.

Audi's not the first manufacturer to drop the cloth early--Mitsubishi released images of its i-Miev.

If you're unable to attend the official reveal of the 2011 Audi Q5 Hybrid Quattro, Audi released 11 minutes of video to the public, which isn't a bad second place to seeing the real thing: