hmm I wont be happy if my GTD gets recalled and it ruins performance in the process. It does make me wonder how all these remaps you can get done etc stand legally wouldn't they effect emissions.
The US has a very odd attitude toward diesel. They make all sorts of additional rules to discourage car manufacturers to bring diesel models into the US. I image it's the oil industry bringing political pressure.
Under such circumstances, I can understand (but not condone) VW from trying to cheat the test. However, that fact remains that these are the same cars as we have in Europe; they certainly do not create more pollution.
Diesel is a dying technology for cars. Petrol engines are nearly as efficient, and produce a lot less emissions. By the time the argument is settled we will have moved on to electric hybrids.
It's funny as I filled out our diesel today and at the station diesel and petrol were the same price (110) - not seen that before.
Diesel was cheaper at Tesco yesterday.
Regarding the money VW have set aside I expect to see massive fines from the US government and if proven to affect cars here in the EU there will be more fines here too.
I would be very surprised if there weren't other manufacturers currently shaking in their boots about seeing their ECUs examined too.
I wouldn't expect to see cars recalled or any changes - just the governments sticking their hands in VW's pocket for cheating the tests and more stringent testing of new models when they test the emissions for a model.
Does this mean that road tax or whatever it is called nowadays will increase on these vehicles. Can they be regrouped retrospectively?
Speaking to an acquaintance who works at a smallish franchised VW dealership and the customer cancellations of both new petrol and diesel cars are coming through now
Yes.
But emissions only get measured when a car is put through type-approval, not at any time afterwards.
Or, perhaps a better way to put it, no measurement is taken to make sure your car emits what the brochure said it would.
And it's a good job too, this incident demonstrates why it would be ludicrous to punish Joe Public if their car was measured at 130g/km when the brochure says 109g/km.
Wouldn't be their fault.
If this is repeated across the UK does this mean that there will be a glut of ordered cars sitting on VW group dealer forecourts with a decent discount? Will there be a repeat of the mad Golf R lease deals?
The US do have periodic emissions tests though:Vehicle inspection in the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
It's nearly half a million cars in the US. Apparently 25% of VW's sold in the US are diesels which quite a high percentage for a country that doesn't like diesels.