VW is now in the frame for up to 11 million faked emissions tests, they could be fined up to 25k dollars per car, and possibly up to 250k each for flouting US import laws, expensive mistake. Who would have guessed the Germans were so fiendishly clever and not to be trusted. Ps I do hope the Swedes havent been using the same software chaps.
[QUOTE=Orca2;786561]VW is now in the frame for up to 11 million faked emissions tests, they could be fined up to 25k dollars per car, and possibly up to 250k each for flouting US import laws, expensive mistake. Who would have guessed the Germans were so fiendishly clever and not to be trusted. [COLOR="#FF0000"]Ps I do hope the Swedes havent been using the same software chaps[/COLOR].[/QUOTE] That is the big question, how many other manufacturers have been doing the same thing?
Methinks the days of oil burners are numbered.. And it is getting worse for VW every " better call Saul, ambulance chasing lawyer in America is compiling lists of VW owners, and asthma sufferers, the federal fines will be nothing compared to the class action suits from the public. This could easily wipe VW out in the US. They have also banned them from selling any more of the affected cars. Assuming they are clean , Volvo could have a bumper sales year over there, nobody is going to be buying a big VW any time soon.
It's all getting a bit out of hand imo. VW didn't deliberately avoid the emissions testing, there were no rules to say they couldn't do what they did! That is the key. Car sees it's on test and operates a bit more efficiently. It's all to do with NOx, that's a really easy fix. alter the timing and fuelling so that diesels run a bit less efficient, and so lower combustion temps = less NOx. Or alter the VVT on the exhaust side, combined with EGR and all that guff they already have. It'll hurt mpg figures a bit, I guess that'll put off some consumers. Let's face it, how many drivers actually care about emissions?? haha! That's my take on it. a quick recall and a software recalibration.
[QUOTE=Mart5in;786567]VW didn't deliberately avoid the emissions testing, there were no rules to say they couldn't do what they did! That is the key. Car sees it's on test and operates a bit more efficiently.[/QUOTE] are you a politician? there obviously was a issue to what VW have done otherwise they wouldn't of put there hand up & admitted everything. They obviously did it as they were behind other manufactures technology when it comes to making the emissions systems & still keeping a reasonably powerful engine or they wouldn't of needed to cheat in the first place. Lets see what other countries they've been telling porkies to
[QUOTE=Mart5in;786567]It's all getting a bit out of hand imo. VW didn't deliberately avoid the emissions testing, there were no rules to say they couldn't do what they did! That is the key. Car sees it's on test and operates a bit more efficiently. It's all to do with NOx, that's a really easy fix. alter the timing and fuelling so that diesels run a bit less efficient, and so lower combustion temps = less NOx. Or alter the VVT on the exhaust side, combined with EGR and all that guff they already have. It'll hurt mpg figures a bit, I guess that'll put off some consumers. Let's face it, how many drivers actually care about emissions?? haha! That's my take on it. a quick recall and a software recalibration.[/QUOTE] I see what you're saying Martin, but people bought their cars because they thought they were cleaner than they actually are, so that's misrepresentation, and also affects road tax, and also company car tax, that's in this country alone. I've heard that the American powers that be could fine VW up to $18 billion (£12 billion), that's before any other country takes action. As for your point about people caring about their cars emissions, whilst you and I may not (we only own petrol cars that aren't exactly economical) plenty of people do, for the reasons of the environment, car tax, and company car tax. If no one cared about emissions, Toyota wouldn't have sold a single Prius. ;)
Their biggest problem is that they have deliberately flouted the American emissions limits , they would not even have been able to import most of these if the true emissions figures had been known. They recalled for a software update last year, now most Americans are keen for vw to refund what they paid for the cars.
I'll Chuck my tuppence worth in for what it's worth. Unrelated to the current scandal but we've been complaining in the trade to Vosa for years now regarding certain ( mostly German ) diesels regarding MOT emission testing. During the test the vehicle should be revved to the limiter, yet many VW, mercs, BMWs made in the last 10 years or so have a limited that only allows them to rev to 1500-2000 rpm when the vehicle is stationary which usually won't even give a reading on the analyser so gets a pass. Do that with an older or different make that revs to the limiter and you'll often get a fail, doesn't seem all that fair of a test to me !
[QUOTE=nobananas;786738]I'll Chuck my tuppence worth in for what it's worth. Unrelated to the current scandal but we've been complaining in the trade to Vosa for years now regarding certain ( mostly German ) diesels regarding MOT emission testing. During the test the vehicle should be revved to the limiter, yet many VW, mercs, BMWs made in the last 10 years or so have a limited that only allows them to rev to 1500-2000 rpm when the vehicle is stationary which usually won't even give a reading on the analyser so gets a pass. Do that with an older or different make that revs to the limiter and you'll often get a fail, doesn't seem all that fair of a test to me ![/QUOTE] so in hindsight it all becomes obvious why they made the cars unable to rev when stationary, clever but it will only last so long before someone blows the whistle and very loudly at that. I do hope that it doesn't cripple VW to much financially as many uk workers jobs depend on the custom, mine included and there a growing client in our business.
The technology isnt exactly new or recent either, it seems Volvo and Renault had to pay fines of about a billion dollars in America in 1998 for having fitted a very similar system to HGV trucks they sold in the US. So The Americans already knew such systems existed, makes me wonder if they might be striking a blow for the Yankee car manufacturers and collecting some huge payouts from European ones. And of course they are known the world over for their environmental awareness. Arent they ?
[QUOTE=MoleT-5R;786740]so in hindsight it all becomes obvious why they made the cars unable to rev when stationary, clever but it will only last so long before someone blows the whistle and very loudly at that. I do hope that it doesn't cripple VW to much financially as many uk workers jobs depend on the custom, mine included and there a growing client in our business.[/QUOTE] I agree entirely, its always the workers that get hit hardest with scandals etc like this. Not quite the same I know but when the Tescos scandal hit a short while ago it was their store staff that suffered first rather than the people directly responsible. There is a brand new superstore 3 miles from me that was built and new staff taken on then canned when the scandal hit. The store still sits there finished but closed even now, god knows what happened to people who had handed in notices to work there then found no job at the end of it.
[QUOTE=Orca2;786741]The technology isnt exactly new or recent either, it seems Volvo and Renault had to pay fines of about a billion dollars in America in 1998 for having fitted a very similar system to HGV trucks they sold in the US. So The Americans already knew such systems existed, makes me wonder if they might be striking a blow for the Yankee car manufacturers and collecting some huge payouts from European ones. And of course they are known the world over for their environmental awareness. Arent they ?[/QUOTE] They've certainly never been a big fan of diesels !
Neither are they fans of European car makers making significant inroads in their car markets, like VW have been over the last few years.
The whole scandal just got a lot worse, there are rumours circulating That Herbie's abilities may actually have been faked.
Orca Say it isn't so..... i refuse to believe that Herbie was faked. If it's true my childhood as a whole must have been a complete lie.
This is so hilarious when America backed away initially from the Kyoto treaty
I'm no conspiracy theorist . However America does seem to be in a win win situation here. They establish some green credentials they have otherwise lacked and at the same time they will yield billions in fines and lawsuits, while they boost their own car industry over the Europeans. And they knew since 1998 that technology existed to do exactly what VW has done. I am not entirely prepared to believe that one of the most technologically advanced countries on earth did not suspect this was happening. It looks like they have allowed it to happen just long enough to rack up the eventual cost.
[QUOTE=500tie;786815]Orca Say it isn't so..... i refuse to believe that Herbie was faked. If it's true my childhood as a whole must have been a complete lie.[/QUOTE] It's ok Sooty just an Internet rumour. The tooth fairy is real too and Santa Claus . Keep a good grip of your blanky champ ,everything is ok PS nobody tells him otherwise ...