Audi cars with automatic trans feature software that "distorts" emissions tests

Another emissions cheating scandal may be brewing and this time out it's with Audi, VW's luxury brand. VW is still trying to dig its way out of the emissions cheating scandal with its cars and the scandal spilled over into some Audi and Porsche models. This new emissions cheating issue is in Audi cars with automatic transmissions and VW apparently admitted the issue.

CARB reportedly discovered another cheat software in an older Audi model that was completely unrelated to the issues that VW was hit with last summer. CARB says that the software it discovered was able to lower carbon dioxide emissions by detecting whether the steering wheel was turned as it would be when driving on the roads. A German newspaper called Bild am Sonntag broke the story and says that the cheat software was used in diesel and gas Audi cars in Europe for years.

VW said, "Adaptive shift programs can lead to incorrect and non-reproducible results." This statement was published in response to an article in another German publication over the weekend called Seddeutsche Zeitung.

According to that publication, when the software that controls the automatic transmission detected testing conditions, the transmission shifted more rapidly to lower the C02 emissions along with nitric oxide emissions.

Audi has explained the technical backgrounds of adaptive shift programs to the Federal Motor Vehicle Authority KBA and has made available technical information," VW said. "In normal use, these adaptive systems support the driver by adjusting the gear-shifting points to best adapt to each driving situation."

Reports indicate that the US government is asking questions about the software in an effort to determine if the software constitutes a defeat device.

SOURCE: Reuters