Volkswagen Given Go-ahead to Fix European Diesel Cars
German transportation authorities approved Wednesday Volkswagen’s fix for 8.5 million illegally polluting cars in Europe, according to the automaker.
Fixes for the automaker’s 1.2-, 1.6- and 2-liter diesel engines include software updates and, for Volkswagen’s 1.6-liter models, a mesh air pipe that calms air ahead of its intake mass air sensor.
The fixes are approved for Europe only.
Last month, Volkswagen officials submitted its proposed fix for North American cars to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board. Those fixes have not yet been approved by those agencies.
Volkswagen said it would begin recalling cars early next year. The company said it would begin recalling 2-liter cars in late January, 1.2-liter cars in the second quarter of 2016 and 1.6-liter cars in the third quarter of next year.
The automaker said the fixes would make those cars in Europe comply with emissions standards, “with the aim of achieving this without any impairment of engine output, fuel consumption or performance.”
On Monday, the German newspaper Die Welt reported ( via Reuters) that German transportation officials would retest those cars after Volkswagen fixes them to ensure they comply with emissions regulations.
More by Aaron Cole
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A fairly simple fix for the bulk ( 8.5 million) vehicles, that exceeded the limit
Doesn't look to me like a guarantee of no impairment of engine output, fuel consumption, or performance. Just that it's the stated goal of the modifications.
Got my letter in from Audi (UK) this morning saying the fix is ready for my wife's 2.0 TDI. I'm really interested to know how they've managed to tweak the software "without any impairment of engine output, fuel consumption or performance.” Hopefully, some enterprising journalists will be able to do a before and after dyno comparison.
If one cheap part and a software tweak bring the cars within limits “without any impairment of engine output, fuel consumption or performance,” then why in the world didn't VW just incorporate them in the first place and save itself a world of hurt? I smell a diesel powered rat.