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Audi CEO's Dieselgate arrest threatens fragile truce among VW stakeholders

FRANKFURT — The arrest and detention of Audi's chief executive forces Volkswagen Group's competing stakeholders to renegotiate the delicate balance of power that has helped keep Audi CEO Rupert Stadler in office. Volkswagen's directors are discussing how to run Audi, its most profitable division, following the arrest of the brand's long-time boss on Monday as part of Germany's investigations into the carmaker's emissions cheating scandal. The supervisory board of Audi, meanwhile, has suspended Stadler and appointed Dutchman Bram Schot as an interim replacement, a source familiar with the matter said on Tuesday. Schot joined the Volkswagen Group in 2011 after having worked as president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Italia. He has been Audi's board member for sales and marketing since last September. The discussions risk reigniting tensions among VW's controlling Piech and Porsche families, its powerful labor representatives and its home region of Lower Saxony. VW has insisted the development of illegal software, also known as "defeat devices," installed in millions of cars was the work of low-level employees, and that no management board members were involved. U.S. prosecutors have challenged this by indicting VW's former chief executive Martin Winterkorn. Stadler's arrest raises further questions. Audi and VW said on Monday that Stadler was presumed innocent unless proved otherwise. Munich prosecutors detained Stadler to prevent him from obstructing a probe into Audi's emissions cheating, they said on Monday. Stadler is being investigated for suspected fraud and false advertising. Here are the main factors deciding the fate of Audi. Background: Audi's role in Dieselgate Volkswagen Group was plunged into crisis in 2015 after U.S. regulators found Europe's biggest carmaker had equipped cars with software to cheat emissions tests on diesel engines. The technique of using software to detect a pollution test procedure, and to increase the effectiveness of emissions filters to mask pollution levels only during tests, was first developed at Audi. "In designing the defeat device, VW engineers borrowed the original concept of the dual-mode, emissions cycle-beating software from Audi," VW said in its plea agreement with U.S. authorities in January 2017, in which the company agreed to pay a $4.3 billion fine to reach a settlement with U.S. regulators.

Audi will show all-electric 'sporty SUV' in Frankfurt

Audi is launching a fully electric crossover in 2018, and the brand is finally giving the world a look at what to expect with the E-Tron Quattro concept at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show. Previewed ahead of the event in these five sketches, the vehicle packs a heap of cutting-edge tech, including beautiful matrix laser OLED headlights, to be as efficient as possible. Audi maintains that it offers a range of over 311 miles, too. For such a green model, the design is surprisingly aggressive with a upright grille in front and angular panels elsewhere. The rear sketch shows the design tapering at the back to improve aerodynamics, though. Active aero parts at the front, sides, and rear further let the E-Tron Quattro concept slice through the air. When combined with a flat underbody, the drag coefficient is claimed to be a segment-best 0.25 cd. Audi also asserts the length is between a Q5 and Q7, which lends credence to speculation that the production version might be called the Q6. Underneath the muscular design is Audi's MLB 2 platform from the latest Q7. Three electric motors provide the all-wheel drive propulsion: one at the front and two on the rear axle. Located underneath the passenger compartment is a lithium-ion battery that uses cells from LG Chem and Samsung SDI. The interior seats four, and the driver is nestled into a wrap-around cockpit with a high center console. The front displays use OLEDs with gesture controls, and the rear passengers also get their own infotainment systems. Related Video: Outlook on series production – the Audi e-tron quattro concept at the IAA 2015 • The latest battery technology and top aerodynamics ensure a range of more than 500 kilometers (310 miles) • Sporty SUV with all-electric drive in series production from 2018 Ingolstadt/Frankfurt am Main, August 19, 2015 – Electric driving at Audi is a pleasure, not a compromise. The brand is demonstrating this with the Audi e-tron quattro concept at the International Motor Show (IAA) 2015 in Frankfurt. The sporty SUV provides an outlook on the brand 's first large-series electric car. The Audi e-tron quattro concept is designed from the ground up as an electric car and proves to be pioneering in its segment at the very first glance. It follows the Audi "Aerosthetics" concept, combining technical measures for reducing aerodynamic drag with creative design solutions. Movable aerodynamic elements at the front, on the sides and at the rear improve the air flow around the car.

Ward's Automotive Ten Best Engines of 2014 dominated by diesels, turbos

With the Car and Driver Ten Best decided, the North American Car and Truck of the Year finalists announced and Cadillac, Ram and Subaru chalking up wins with Motor Trend, it's fair to say that the automotive awards season is in full swing. The next set of trophies to be handed out will be from Ward's Automotive, which has announced the winners of its 2014 10 Best Engines.
The latest contest was marked by the widespread emergence of diesel power and the continued success of turbocharged engines. There was even an electric motor on this year's list. In fact, only three of the ten winners were naturally aspirated and only two winners returned from last year.
"We weren't looking to throw the bums out, as they might say about an election. We were just really impressed with the flood of new powertrains," said Ward's Automotive Editor-in-Chief Drew Winter. Those new powertrains include the 83-kilowatt electric motor from the Fiat 500e, the 1.0-liter, EcoBoost three-cylinder from the Ford Fiesta and the 2.0-liter turbodiesel from the Chevrolet Cruze.