2008 Audi A6 S-line 4.2l V8 Quattro Blue/beige Navigation Auto Xenon Dlr Maint ~ on 2040-cars

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Electric turbos promise big performance and efficiency gains in the near future

An electric turbo system boosts efficiency between 15 and 20 percent, according to Audi.
Turbochargers, like acoustic guitars, use moving air to create magic. And electric turbochargers, like electric guitars, provide the ability to amp up that magic to amazing new levels.

Audi could buy back 25,000 older diesel Q7s

Audi will follow the example of Volkswagen here in the US, according to Germany's Der Spiegel. The paper reports that the luxury brand will buy back 25,000 vehicles with 3.0-liter, turbodiesel V6s that don't pass US emissions tests, and repair others. While we can expect an official update on the 3.0-liter TDI during a hearing on November 3, Der Spiegel's report could serve as a preview. The paper reports Audi will only offer owners of older Q7 TDIs buybacks. According to Reuters, Audi will repair an additional 85,000 vehicles that violate emission laws, although the report doesn't specify models. Audi USA's consumer information website lists an EPA "notice of violation" for all diesel-powered A6, A7, and A8 sedans, as well as Q5 crossovers, from model years 2014 through 2016. The Q7, meanwhile, stretches from to 2009 to 2016. We should also consider what Der Spiegel's report means for German consumers. Volkswagen has received a lot of heat across the pond over its decision to not offer buybacks in Europe, owing to the far greater number of affected vehicles. That both VW and Audi are looking at US buybacks is surely something that will irk the brands' critics in their homeland. We'll have more on Volkswagen/Audi's plans for the 3.0-liter TDI V6 on November 3. Related Video:

Ford GT dominates Le Mans qualifying, gets slapped with performance adjustment

Fifty years after Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon drove the Ford GT40 to victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Ford is poised for a historic return to the Circuit de la Sarthe. The new Ford GT took the top two qualifying positions in the LMGTE Pro class, and four of the top five. Ferrari's 488 filled in the rest of the spots in the top seven, the first two from AF Corse. In other words, we're primed for a reboot of the classic Ford-Ferrari feud at this year's race. Or not, as the ACO, which organizes the 24 Hours of Le Mans, announced sweeping pre-race Balance of Performance (BOP) adjustments this morning that make this year's GT class anybody's race. In LMP1, last year's overall winner Porsche locked up the top two spots with the 919 Hybrid and will lead the entire field at race start. Toyota's two-car factory effort followed with qualifying times 1.004 and 2.170 seconds behind the pole lap. Audi rounds out the manufacturer-backed LMP1 class in fifth and sixth. Full qualifying results can be found here. The storyline for the GT cars is perfect - some say too perfect. Ford's class-leading times came after BOP adjustment to the Corvette Racing C7.R before qualifying. BOP is intended to level the playing field in the class by adjusting power, ballast, and fuel capacity. (Check out this explainer video for more, or even just if you love French accents.) But the process is riddled with unknowns and ripe for accusations of sandbagging. That is, if the Ford cars were intentionally slow in practice they could hope for BOP adjustment to improve their race chances. On the Corvette side, last year's GTE Pro winner went from the top of the field to the bottom, barely improving from practice to qualifying. If you think Le Mans is as rigged at the NBA Playoffs, well, it's not that simple. Because if Ford and Ferrari held back until qualifying - the eighth-place Porsche 911 RSR is three-and-a-half seconds off the class pole time - it was a pretty dumb strategy. This morning, the ACO tried to put things back in order by limiting the boost in the Ford GT's twin-turbo V6 and adding 11 pounds of ballast. Ferrari was also given extra weight but allowed more fuel capacity. The Corvette and Aston Martin teams were both given breaks on their air restrictors, which will allow their engines to make more power. Both Ford and Porsche also received extra fuel capacity.