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Audi rumored to ditch Le Mans, DTM for F1

If you've been scratching your head wondering how - between Audi and Porsche - the Volkswagen Group could possibly support two rival top-tier LMP1 programs at Le Mans and the FIA World Endurance Championship, but stay out of Formula One entirely, you're not alone. In fact, Porsche was said to have been eying an F1 entry if Audi had internally blocked aspirations to return to Le Mans. But according to the latest rumors, it's Audi that's now preparing to shift away from endurance racing and onto the grand prix circuit.
Word has it that, following internal pressures from within the VW Group, Audi is finally gearing up for a full assault on F1. It's said to be developing a new six-cylinder turbo hybrid power unit - potentially at its new racing headquarters in Neuburg - and, in an expanded partnership with Red Bull, either take Renault's and Infiniti's places with the Red Bull Racing team or take over the Toro Rosso team entirely.
Although Ingolstadt has not campaigned in grand prix racing since the pre-war days of the Silver Arrows, it was said to have been the impetus for the FIA's push a couple of years ago for new four-cylinder engine regulations until Audi bailed on the idea altogether and F1 went for six-cylinder engines instead.

Next-gen Audi Q7 to debut in Detroit

Audi's public relations team must really be getting fed up with research and design boss Ulrich Hackenberg. Aside from basically confirming that the next Audi R8 will share its bones with the Lamborghini Huracán and noting that it may take advantage of the Asterion Concept's hybrid powertrain technology, he's now let slip that the second-generation Q7 will arrive in January at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show.
"If you make a trip to Detroit, you'll see it," Hackenberg reportedly told Indian Autos Blog during Paris Motor Show festivities.
That's a bombshell, particularly as we've heard plenty about its potential powertrain technologies, including spy shots of diesel-powered models, plug-in-hybrids, sporty SQ7s and electric turbochargers, but there's been absolutely nothing concrete about when and where the car would debut.

California orders VW Group to fix 15,000 3.0L diesel vehicles

The California Air Resources Board has ordered Volkswagen to come up with a plan for repairing approximately 15,000 cars sold in the state that contain illegal software that may circumvent emissions testing. In a letter sent to Volkswagen Group of America and several company brands, CARB's chief emissions officer says the company has 45 business days to submit a recall plan that will fix affected Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche models equipped with 3.0-liter diesel engines sold in the state since 2009. "We expect full cooperation in this investigation so this issue can be addressed expeditiously and appropriately," wrote Annette Herbert, chief of emissions compliance. The violations first surfaced in a meeting last week between California regulatory officials and Audi executives. In that meeting, Audi admitted certain versions of A6, A7, A8, Q5 and Q7 models contained three previously undisclosed auxiliary emissions control devices. An auxiliary device is not necessarily the same as a defeat device that intentionally cheats on emissions testing, but Audi and other affected brands hadn't disclosed the existence of the AECDs, which is a violation of the state's health and safety code. Had they been disclosed prior to vehicle certification, there's a possibility CARB may have approved use of the devices. In a statement Wednesday, CARB did not elaborate on whether it considered the three devices mere AECDs or defeat devices. When Volkswagen submits its plan to fix the cars, CARB says it must include an assessment of how the repairs will affect fuel economy, performance, drivability, and the safety of each vehicle. The 15,000 cars affected in California are part of roughly 85,000 nationwide which contain the affected 3.0-liter engines. The US Environmental Protection Agency may soon address how it expects Volkswagen to fix the remaining cars. "EPA and CARB are working closely and continue to investigate following the admission by Volkswagen that the issues EPA identified in the November 2nd NOV (Notice of Violations) extend to all 3.0-liter diesel Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche vehicles," an agency spokesperson said in a statement Wednesday. "EPA will take all appropriate enforcement action." The 3.0-liter developments, of course, come on top of the company's September admission that 482,000 diesels equipped with 2.0-liter engines contain defeat devices that detect emissions testing and alter the cars' performance.