Audi reports ‘irregularities’ with diesel A6, A7

AUDI has divulged that its previous-generation A6 and A7 models equipped with a 3.0-litre TDI V6 diesel engine were fitted with an emissions test cheating device.

Conducting its own internal investigation in the wake of the Volkswagen dieselgate scandal, around 60,000 A6 and A7s are affected worldwide by the “engine-management irregularities”, according to Audi, although the Australian impact is still unclear.

Audi Australia said it "is currently working with Audi AG to understand whether any Australian vehicles are affected" but that customers are the "highest priority".

Audi says “the engines involved are the V6 TDI Gen2 evo EU6 engine with a maximum output of 200 kilowatts”, but Australian-delivered versions of the powerplant only made 180kW, which was revised down to 160kW in 2015.

It is unknown if the detuned engines contain any inconsistencies, or if they were limited to just the 200kW version.

“The irregularities were noticed during the ongoing systematic tests of diesel-engine and transmission combinations,” Audi said in a statement, but the exact details are still yet to be revealed.

Audi CEO Rupert Stadler said the Ingolstadt brand reported the anomalies in the outgoing powertrain immediately to the authorities.

“We regularly inform the Federal Motor Transport Authority about the results of our systematic engine testing program,” he said.

“We report any irregularities to the authorities because full clarification is our top priority. We did so without delay also in this case.”

The fourth-generation A6 and first-generation A7 vehicles affected are due to be replaced with fresh versions later this year with a mix of different engine options, one of which will be a 210kW/620Nm 3.0-litre turbo-diesel TDI.

Concerned Australian Audi customers can contact 1800 50 2834 for the latest information.