Dieselgate: Audi emissions investigated

Another Volkswagen Group emissions controversy has surfaced with the software calibration of luxury brand Audi’s automatic transmissions being investigated in both North America and Europe.

The calibration is suspected of distorting emissions results to lower carbon-dioxide as well nitrogen oxide emissions in both petrol and diesel engines.

The latest emissions issue is separate to the 'dieselgate' furore over defeat devices fitted to EA189 four-cylinder engines and 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesels.

This is the first time VW Group petrol engines have become enmeshed in the emissions issue and outputs of the global warming gas CO2 have been the main focus rather than NOx outputs.

Audi engineers and communications staff have been unable to clarify to motoring.com.au whether the calibration has been present in automatic Audis sold in Australia, or whether the calibration is still present in transmissions sold globally.

But an Audi statement supplied to motoring.com.au by the luxury brand’s Australian arm does acknowledge the potential for automatics to deliver false results when being tested, without specifically admitting fault.

“Adaptive shift programs can lead to falsified and non-reproducible results during emissions testing. This must be monitored during testing by all manufacturers,” the statement read.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are investigating the issue in North America, while the Federal Motor Vehicle Authority KBA is on the case in Germany.

The issue was first reported by the Bild Am Sonntag newspaper in Germany in early November, and then picked up by the English language Automotive News Europe.

Bild claims CARB had mid-2016 discovered “cheating software” in an automatic transmission Audi.

The software in CARB's discovery lowered CO2 emissions by detecting whether a car's steering wheel was turned as it would be when driving on a road. The software was used in diesel and petrol models in Europe for years, Bild reported.

Another German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung, cited confidential VW document to claim when software that controlled the automatic transmissions of certain Audi models detected testing conditions, the cars shifted more rapidly and in a way that would lower emissions of CO2 as well as NOx emissions.

Attempts to gain clarification from Audi engineers and communications staff at last week’s Q5 media event in Mexico met with little success.

“We have no comment on this because we are still in this legal discussion with the authorities,” said Audi innovation and technology spokesman Christian Hartmann.

“What we can say is the transmission is adaptive to how you drive if you change the mode, but this is the only thing we can say.”

At Audi Australia’s recommendation, motoring.com.au contacted Audi Head of Technology and Innovations Communications, Udo Ruegheimer, with a list of questions, but he did not respond.

An official Audi statement was finally issued via Audi Australia yesterday.

“In light of ongoing discussions with regulators in the United States, Audi can comment only on the situation in Europe.

“AUDI AG explained the technical background behind adaptive shift programs and provided technical information to the German Federal Motor Transport Authority, which is the responsible European approval authority.

“Further discussions with the KBA will follow.

“With regard to adaptive shift programs, we can make the following general statement for Europe:

“During normal driving, these learning systems support the driver by optimally adjusting the shift points to the respective driving situation.

“Adaptive shift programs can lead to falsified and non-reproducible results during emissions testing. This must be monitored during testing by all manufacturers.”

Asked by email whether Audis sold in Australia had these adaptive shift programs, a spokesman for the local arm of the company said that information was not available “right now”.

If we get an answer we will update this story.

The ramifications of ‘dieselgate’ continue to roll on through the Volkswagen Group. Most recently VW brand pulled out of the World Rally Championship and Audi from the World Endurance Championship.

It has also been recently reported that Audi’s MLBevo architecture underpinning models such as the new Q5 will be canned and various VW Group new models delayed while focus goes on a dramatic expansion of electric vehicles.

In October VW Group agreed to a compensation scheme in the USA worth nearly $US15 billion, but still faces multiple other actions from authorities and private citizens there and around the world.

In September veteran VW engineer James Liang became the first person charged in the US in relation to the diesel emissions scandal. He pleaded guilty and agreed to co-operate with authorities.

In Australia, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has instituted proceedings in the Federal Court against VW alleging false and misleading conduct, while legal firm Maurice Blackburn is leading a private class action which has its next hearing in the Federal Court on December 14.