Volkswagen under investigation over illegal software that masks pollution

[Cossor]

Sure, okay but notice how it doesn't say, ".... without notice at any time", or words to that effect. This to me infers that any such changes, if they were to occur, can only happen any time along the manufacturing/delivery process up to the point where the owner takes possession of the vehicle and drives off the lot.

I don't think the disclaimer is intended to provide carte blanche to the manufacturer to make changes at any time at their discretion after the vehicle has been delivered. If it did, I'd say the ACCC would have something to say about that. There are implied limits to the manufacturer's authority to make such changes.

A good example is Passat being offered with reverse camera as option. So Joe Blow orders one. Then the big quake occurs, and factory in Japan is disabled. Dealer has a problem. But at least customer should have his deposit returned. Too bad if car HAS been traded in, and he is driving a loaner whle waiting.

[Amalgam]

An Admission for Michael Horn that there will be a decrease in Performance and Drivability after the reflash and some Compensation.

Dieselgate: VW's fix will impact cars' performance – Car Reviews, News & Advice - CarPoint Australia


"US boss says owners likely to be compensated for "slight impact" on performance

The grilling of Volkswagen Group of America's CEO, Michael Horn, by US politicians has shed little extra light on the ramifications of the #Dieselgate controversy.

Grilled for three hours by a US congressional committee, Horn conceded that once the vehicles affected by the 'defeat device' software have been corrected (via software and hardware replacements), they are likely to lose some drivability – although fuel economy is not expected to change.

"To my current understanding, in achieving the emissions standard the Monroney label miles per gallon will be achieved [but] there might be a slight impact on the performance," Horn told the committee at the US congress."

"Horn went one step further in his answers to the pollies, conceded that customers can be expected to be compensated for any shortfalls."



And the Fat Lady has sung.

[ParaBul]

"To my current understanding, in achieving the emissions standard the Monroney label miles per gallon will be achieved [but] there might be a slight impact on the performance," Horn told the committee at the US congress."

He's very specific there. The official economy figures, as calculated during the emissions tests, will be achieved - during the testing.

Meanwhile, in the real world, the excellent economy we've all been enjoying driving our dirty diesels will be nothing more than a distant memory once our diesels are truly clean.

[arcadelt]

"To my current understanding, in achieving the emissions standard the Monroney label miles per gallon will be achieved [but] there might be a slight impact on the performance," Horn told the committee at the US congress."

In developing the fix they could choose to dial in performance and economy in any way they like, as long as they fix the problem by achieving required emission standards; but of course they would choose to sacrifice performance in favour of economy, because with economy they have to again answer to authorities, whereas with performance they only need to answer to consumers. The authorities have the benefit of a sticker on every car that prominently declares the economy figures achieved through Government testing and they wield a big stick, whereas the consumer, in many cases, will not even notice the degradation in performance and as individuals have less of a voice to do anything about it anyway.

It will be interesting to see whether it will be one worldwide solution, or if they will tailor the mix for different markets. In the same way we get de-tuned Golf Rs, they could choose to tune the fixed cars in Australia with slightly higher emission levels (due to our lower standards) and leave both economy and performance closer to where they currently are. We are, however, a small market, so I doubt that will be the case. After all, Volkswagen has never felt the need to give the RNS-510 an Australian accent, so why would they tailor anything else for us?

[jrgti]

You can extend it as far or as little as you like. It's everyone's personal call to make whether or not knowingly illegally polluting the planet will millions of cars worldwide is something they care about. Or you can write is off as something as small as changing the odometer for the sake of resale value - that's your call.

I was just highlighting the attitude many apologists are adopting, you know the "oh well, I don't care about that stuff, all I care about is how it effects me - so... about that mpg" attitude.

I'm sure this scandal this won't kill the marque, I mean, if being backed by Hitler doesn't give you a bad reputation nothing will lol.

This is about cheating in the emissions tests which might still only violate the standards in the US but obviously they'd probably still be prosecuted in other countries as well. Other consequences are of course loss of customer trust, compensation...etc.

But pollution? And you driving your car makes you any better then us? lol You are so delusional. I'd suggest you read up on the real NoX emitters before even replying to anything here.

They just needed more time and insisted the low limits are un-necessary as they were still working on refining an alternative diesel fuel which might well be e-diesel. Well I guess they've at least come up with something.........but I suggest that if you're truly concerned about pollution, then stop driving your car, stop consuming food sourced from livestock/agriculture, stop buying products transported by plane/big container ships/big diesel trucks, stop using your lawn-mover.....essentially just delete your bogus forum account and vanish into the wild. Don't even bother replying because I sure won't read it you troll.

[Rawcpoppa]

Not sure if this has been posted before but VW UK has revealed that 1.6L diesel engines require physical modifications while the 2.0L diesels will require just a software fix.

400,000 VW cars in UK need engine modification - BBC News
Paul Willis, UK managing director, said that cars fitted with the 1.6L diesel engine would need the physical remedy.

Those with the larger 2L engine would only need a software fix, he told the Commons Transport select committee.


My guess is after this recall fuel economy figures will go down depending on how the vehicle is driven.

[Bayman]

Not sure if this has been posted before but VW UK has revealed that 1.6L diesel engines require physical modifications while the 2.0L diesels will require just a software fix.

400,000 VW cars in UK need engine modification - BBC News
Paul Willis, UK managing director, said that cars fitted with the 1.6L diesel engine would need the physical remedy.

Those with the larger 2L engine would only need a software fix, he told the Commons Transport select committee.


My guess is after this recall fuel economy figures will go down depending on how the vehicle is driven.

No sign of Tiguans in the UK recall list I saw? Why is Tiguan and Passat models 2008-15 affected in Aust considering our EU 4 levels. What a world wide mess considering the huge variances in this EA 189 engine and configuration/models fitted to.

[Buzy_Robot]

ROFL ....

Volkswagen emissions to be made in to a movie

[Amalgam]

Volkswagen Group Australia has apologised unreservedly to the company's customers, dealers and staff for the 'dieselgate' scandal involving 11 million vehicles globally and 100,000 in Australia.

Speaking at the media launch of the new Passat today, managing director John White said his company will do what it takes to redeem itself in the eyes of consumers.

Dieselgate: Volkswagen Oz apologises – Car Reviews, News & Advice - CarPoint Australia

[Amalgam]

And here are the scapegoats for dieselgate

"This was a couple of software engineers who put this in for whatever reason," Michael Horn, VW's U.S. chief executive, told a House subcommittee hearing. "To my understanding, this was not a corporate decision. This was something individuals did."

VW exec blames 'a couple of' rogue engineers for emissions scandal - LA Times

[Coaster]

What a load of bullocks! What an eejit expecting the committee to swallow that.

[Ryeman]

More in the latest GoAuto News
Including the Haval SUV being released and more on the scandal.

[bluey]

And here are the scapegoats for dieselgate

"This was a couple of software engineers who put this in for whatever reason," Michael Horn, VW's U.S. chief executive, told a House subcommittee hearing. "To my understanding, this was not a corporate decision. This was something individuals did."

VW exec blames 'a couple of' rogue engineers for emissions scandal - LA Times

The CEO has already been scapegoated. Throwing a few engineers into the fire is necessary to complete the story.

This German article is interesting. It suggest how this all could have started around Golf VI launch. (Use Google translate or Chrome or you favourite other machine translator.)
VW-Diesel EA 189: Rückruf, Software-Update, Nachrüstung | Technik

We are in 2007-8 just after the global financial crisis. VW is gearing up for Golf VI launch in 2008. Testing of USmodels reveals problems meeting US emissions standards. Engineering and management consider how to manage potential launch delays and the importance to corporate strategy to get moving. Software engineers play with a solution on the borderline of legal. Legal is consulted and reports on the risks. Top management considers all the future scenarios. Playing on the edge seems manageable. Future profitability will make it easier to pay to fix it later is necessary. Engineering will fix it properly for the next generation vehicle. Full steam ahead for Golf 6 launch.

[bluey]

More in the latest GoAuto News
Including the Haval SUV being released and more on the scandal.

Volkswagen - VW Australia counts cost of ‘dieselgate’ | GoAuto

[Ryeman]

Seeing my 2.0L TDI is such a relatively easy fix (just un ECU fix) it's now obvious that the 'cheat' was simply to fool the EGR into staying (more) active during a detected test cycle.
So
Once that EGR is forced to do more THE WHOLE TIME in actual driving, my concern is for the longevity of it in a clean working state for the minimum designed life of 10 years (for all emmissions related equipment).
That min design life is what made stainless steel exhausts mandatory decades ago from my observation of ALL the cars I've owned over that time.
So if an EGR fails inside 10 years the manufacturer, knowing it's a faulty part, and if forced to acknowledge it, should not charge you for the components cost.......labour might be another issue.
Applying the 10 year rule would go a long way to dismissing the worry about the complexity involved in cleaning up an inherently dirty engine.......the law might agree also if tested.