Next Audi Q7 to shed 650 pounds?

Audi is continuing to pour cash into the development of its next generation crossovers, and in addition to a range of new high-riding models, the next Q5 and Q7 are set to go on a serious diet.

According to Automobile, the redesigned Q5 will drop around 220 pounds from its curb weight, while the larger Q7 will reportedly shed some 650 pounds thanks to a new aluminum body.

The aforementioned Q5 will share a platform with the forthcoming Porsche Cajun when it arrives in 2016 and will spawn two new models: the Q4 and Q6.

The Q6 will supposedly take on the BMW X6, with a steeply raked windshield and low-slung hatch, but will maximize cargo and rear passenger space, while making ingress and egress easier.

More interestingly, Automobile says that the Q4 could take one of three shapes: a hardened off-roader, a more luxurious Acura ZDX competitor or a high-performance crossover. Regardless, power for both models will come from a new turbocharged 3.0-liter V6, boosting efficiency over the current supercharged six by up to 20 percent. A plug-in hybrid model is also in the cards, mating the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with a 100-horsepower electric motor.