No More LNTs for Volkswagen Diesels; Phaeton Goes All-electric

Aaron Cole
by Aaron Cole

Volkswagen in Germany announced Tuesday that its diesel cars on sale in Europe and the U.S. would be fitted with an emissions-scrubbing urea tank instead of a lean nitrogen-oxide trap and the automaker would develop further its all-electric vehicles, starting with the Phaeton.

“The Volkswagen brand is repositioning itself for the future. We are becoming more efficient, we are giving our product range and our core technologies a new focus, and we are creating room for forward-looking technologies by speeding up the efficiency program,” Volkswagen passenger cars board chairman Herbert Diess said in a statement.

The automaker announced it would trim €1 billion ($1.1 billion) from current projects, but didn’t specify what three-row SUVs those projects would be.

Volkswagen announced that it would also focus on plug-in hybrid and battery tech for its MQB architecture that underpins its Golf, Tiguan and other cars. According to the statement, it would aim to produce those cars with all-electric ranges of up to 186 miles.

The automaker also said it would develop a universal electric powertrain for its cars, including light commercial vehicles. The all-electric technology would be based on current systems and could deliver a range between 155 miles and 300 miles in those vehicles.

Diess added that those projects would only be possible if the automaker continued to cut following a scandal that will cost at least $7 billion.

Last year, Volkswagen spent the most of any company — regardless of sector — on research and development.

Aaron Cole
Aaron Cole

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  • NickS NickS on Oct 13, 2015

    Too late. Most other car makers have made widely available EVs for several years now, accumulating experience and market share (just in the US: Prius: 18 yrs, Insight: 15 yrs, Fusion: 10 yrs.) Even relative latecomers are taking market share: Leaf, Volt, C-Max, i3, Fit, Model S, 500e, iMiev. Everyone and their dog is in that space trying to grab a slide of that pie. Good bloody luck with the crumbs. And some have already been researching fuel cells and planning out product lines on that. They have created a horizon for themselves. All of this would have been debatable if VW executed a diesel strategy (old-tech as it was) without having to resort to a defeat device (or two). Huge research budget and careful acquisitions normally help, but making up for lost market share will hit their margins hard. And I'd personally be more realistic about how much the scandal will cost them worldwide. 50 billion is not at all unreasonable.

    • See 3 previous
    • GTL GTL on Oct 14, 2015

      @NickS Yes, well VW making a successful third type of EV is certainly a big IF.

  • Wmba Wmba on Oct 13, 2015

    The Phaeton was already an abject porker at 5400 lbs. So the obvious solution is to load in some batteries and break the 3,000 kg (6600 lbs) barrier for sedans. After that, they can transfer the powertrain with even bigger batteries to the Bentley Bentayga and go safari hunting, challenging similarly porcine rhinos to head butts just to see who's boss. Who can see any logic in the Phaeton whatsoever? VW is in deep doodoo and losing its mind, but of course my man Ferdy Piech is still around pulling the strings. The TDI cheat might have fallen flat, but the Phaeton must succeed! By decree of Herr Doktor Professor Dipl Ing F Piech, Mastermind.

  • Pdl2dmtl Pdl2dmtl on Oct 13, 2015

    VW does not deserve to survive if now they dangle in front of everybody the Phaeton EV as their halo car. "Look - it has batteries now!" What a bunch of arschloecher.... The "foot-shooting" continues.

  • RobertRyan RobertRyan on Oct 13, 2015

    Phaeton has been seen and heard in China and here. Tesla is a phantom here and there

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