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Audi rumored to leave top-tier endurance racing after 2017

Volkswagen's ongoing diesel scandal is turning out to be an expensive problem for the German automaker. With a recent settlement expected to cost the company up to $14.7 billion, the company is scrambling to find ways to save cash. In light of this, Audi could be pulling out of the highest class of endurance racing, which it has dominated for years. A report from Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, indicates that Audi has already finalized the automaker's departure from the World Endurance Championship's top-tier LMP1 class after the 2017 season. Another report by Autocar cites an unnamed insider to corroborate the LMP1 exit rumors. The report fingers the VW Group's ongoing diesel scandal's financial fallout as the main culprit for Audi bowing out of LMP1. The move to could also be due to the group's decision to move away from diesel technology. Audi's LMP1 car, the R18, utilizes a V6 turbo-diesel engine. The Porsche 919 Hybrid, on the other hand, uses 2.0-liter turbocharged V4 engine that runs on gasoline. Audi has won the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans 13 times since 1999, making Audi an unstoppable force in endurance racing. Porsche, Audi's corporate sibling, reentered endurance racing with a LMP1 competitor of its own in 2014 and won the constructor's championship last year. Audi's decision to leave LMP1 could give Porsche a shot at creating its own Le Mans-winning dynasty. Autocar reports that Audi is expected to continue fielding cars in other WEC classes, like GT3 and GT4, and perhaps the brand will even enter Formula E. We reached out to Audi for some clarification on the matter and a spokesperson stated that the rumors were "pure speculation at this point." Related Video: News Source: Auto Motor und Sport, AutocarImage Credit: Audi Motorsports Rumormill Audi Porsche Volkswagen Diesel Vehicles Hybrid Racing Vehicles vw diesel scandal rumor world endurance championship wec porsche 919 hybrid

Recharge Wrap-up: Atieva making EV with former Tesla talent, Holland lowers PHEV incentives

A reduction of tax incentives on company cars in Holland is expected to put the brakes on plug-in hybrid sales. Cars are taxed at an average of 25 percent, with plug-in hybrids taxed at just seven or 14 percent, depending on emissions. Taxes on PHEV company cars will increase to 14 and 21 percent. With company car leases making up a third of vehicle sales in 2014, the uptake on PHEVs "will likely go back to regular volumes," according to Volvo's Christiaan Krouwel. It could be a boon for battery electric cars, as their tax rate will remain at four percent for company cars. Read more at Automotive News Europe. Ford is testing cylinder deactivation in its 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine. On-road prototype testing has shown improvements in fuel economy of as much as six percent. Ford engineers developed a system using a new dual mass flywheel, pendulum absorber, and tuned clutch disc to allow cylinder deactivation under a wider range of speed and engine loads with less NVH. "The highest priority in the development of new combustion engines for automotive applications is the ongoing reduction of fuel consumption," says Ford's Andreas Schamel, presenting Ford's findings to the Vienna Motor Symposium. Read more at Green Car Congress or in the press release from Ford. Atieva is building an EV with the help of numerous former Tesla employees. The Silicon Valley-based startup was founded in 2007 by a former Tesla vice president, and its roster includes 12 other former Tesla employees. Already well funded, Atieva is now looking to fill its ranks with more talent, with 32 engineering positions, two recruiter positions and other job openings posted at its website. As for the EV it is working on, Atieva says it is "redefining what a car can be, by building an iconic new vehicle from the ground up." Read more at Charged EVs. Testing shows that Joule ethanol, made from recycled CO2, meets standards for use in the US and Europe. In partnership with Audi, Joule has been working toward making its recycled CO2 fuels ready for commercialization. "We are pleased to achieve another critical step towards our planned near-term delivery of fuel-grade ethanol from recycled CO2," says Joule President and CEO Serge Tchuruk. "Using waste CO2 as a feedstock, our technology has the two-fold advantage of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and producing cost-competitive, drop-in fuels." Joule will use these test results to get government approval for the use of its ethanol in highway fuel.

Audi SQ7 stars in Captain America: Civil War

When Captain America: Civil War hits theaters next month joining the Captain and all his friends and foes in the latest Marvel action movie will be the Audi R8 V10 Plus, A4, A7, and the new SQ7, launched last month in Europe with a trick new electric-charged diesel engine. We've been hopeful over the prospect of the SQ7 making its way across the Atlantic, and its inclusion in a major Hollywood blockbuster gives us new hope. To coincide with the film's debut (and highlight its product placement), Audi had the film's directors Anthony and Joe Russo direct this promotional clip entitled "The Chase" and starring the aforementioned SQ7. Given the hodgepodge of US and German license plates, it's hard to tell where the scene is supposed to take place, much less draw conclusions over the SQ7's arrival, but we remain hopeful just the same. The minute-and-a-half version is online only, but a 30-second spot will be hitting the airwaves this month before the movie hits theaters on May 6. Until then – and the hopeful arrival of the new performance crossover in North American showrooms – this will just have to hold us over, so sit back and enjoy. Audi returns to the Marvel cinematic universe for hero-versus-hero epic, Marvel's Captain America: Civil War April 18, 2016 | HERNDON, Virginia - Audi teams with Marvel Entertainment for May 6 release of Marvel's Captain America: Civil War - Featured models include the all-new 2017 Audi R8 V10 plus Coupe, 2017 Audi SQ7, 2017 A4 and 2016 A7 Sportback - Audi to release global advertising and marketing campaign to support the film Audi and Marvel Entertainment team up once again for the release of Marvel's newest blockbuster, Captain America: Civil War, set to be released in the U.S. on May 6, 2016. The collaboration continues the Audi brand's commitment to one of Hollywood's biggest franchises and its passionate fans. After nearly a decade of successful collaborations, the Audi and Marvel alliance remains strong. Multiple models from the luxury carmaker are featured in the film with a robust association that includes an advertising and marketing campaign kicking off with the World Premiere in Los Angeles. Released today, the campaign includes an exclusive digital video called "The Chase," directed by the film's directors Anthony and Joe Russo. Audi excites the Marvel universe by previewing a pivotal scene featuring the all-new Audi SQ7.