Volkswagen Chief Martin Winterkorn Resigns Amid Emissions Scandal

NY Times ^ | SEPT. 23, 2015 | JACK EWING

[indthkr]

"Anecdotal for sure, but it seems the VW has become a favorite of the liberal crowd."

That is true. VW has been one of the great saviors of the Green / Envirowaco movement, not to mention the US EPA.

They have been effectively "hoisted with their own petard".

[Iron Munro]

You mean like GM——

Yep.

One thing we know for certain - When our presidents, senators and congressmen are bought they stay bought!

[Fresh Wind]

UAW über alles!

[Redbob]

"AFAIK car emissions are still only regulated during the LA City Traffic driving cycle at low and “high” (Denver) altitudes. Not on the highway except for fuel economy on the highway cycle."

Wrongo, bwana: emissions are regulated at all times; they're only "tested" on a driving cycle, but you sure as the dickens can't make the emission control strategy only function during the test!

American Motors tried that back around 1970 and got their you-know-whats whacked big-time.

[Redbob]

"I talked to a friend this weekend who works for a company associated with VW. He claimed “they all do that” - meaning all the manufacturers have software tailored to emission testing which kicks in when the test is done."

Wrongo, Bwana-II: doing that is strictly verboten, and has been since Day Uno, as we say here in Texas...
See my previous reply.

As a former calibrator for a U.S. company who shall remain nameless (headquartered in Auburn Hills, MI), I can tell you there is no uncertainty on this point in the auto industry, and when the VW thing was discovered, the same people were testing a BMW X5 that showed identical numbers on the highway and on the dyno.

[matt04]

I would demand they buy the car back if the recall effects its performance.

[Redbob]

I hear the VW Board have vowed to fire anyone involved in this and turn them over for criminal prosecution.

Won't get them the $11 BILLION EPA fine back, though...

[Redbob]

If they reflash these cars to a conforming strategy, it’s guaranteed to result in poorer performance and driveability on the road. It won’t affect the claimed fuel economy, since those numbers were obtained with the emission controls active, but it’s certain to reduce the real-world fuel economy, as compared to when the controls were not active.

[taildragger]

"The guy is 68. He’ll retire with is millions."

That's old in the auto biz. My gnomes tell me and from what I hear the pressures are so great on all these "high-pots" they'd all like to get out by their mid-50's.

[Kickass Conservative]

I believe that Diesels aren't included in States that require Annual / Bi-Annual Smog Inspections.

If I had a VW Clean Diesel that was re-calibrated, I would find someone to “undo” the Recalibration. Simple as that.

Screw the EPA and the Oligarchs they rode in on.

[Kickass Conservative]

Does anyone know how many People died because of this alleged Crime against Humanity and every living, breathing Creature that inhabits the Earth?

I would imagine it’s one less than died in Ted Kennedy’s Oldsmobile. The irony being that if Ted Kennedy were driving a VW Bug at the time, nobody would have died.

Cue the fake Ad from National Lampoon.

[Paladin2]

Then please forward the standards/requirements....

Heavy Duty Trucks have testing that is independent of drive cycle (engine dyno testing at various parametric operating points).

[kingu]

It won’t affect the claimed fuel economy, since those numbers were obtained with the emission controls active,

I've heard that claim multiple times now; I've never seen nor heard of any monitoring of smog control devices during a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration fuel economy check. Has the EPA started conducting joint tests on the grounds of other administrations?

[kingu]

I’m sure you’ll see class action lawyers on the television advertising 24 hours a day...

[matt04]

I wonder how many people will just ignore any recalls?

[Paladin2]

For instance: If a light duty vehicle did not hit WOT on the city test cycle, emissions in the real world at WOT were unregulated.

Some vehicles were purposely overfueled to minimize peak catalyst temperatures to insure high conversion effieiencies at high mileages. So they dumped plenty of CO hauling trailers up grades.

[Paladin2]

My recollection is that all of the gas analyzers were running during the “highway” test but only C atoms coming out were counted.

[Chickensoup]

The real scandal is that the EPA forces automobile companies like Volkswagen to kill their vehicles’ performance and gas mileage with ridiculous emissions control features and also makes customers submit to the emissions tests.

++++++++++++++++++++

YOu are so right about this. I am a VW owner and have a TDI. US emmissions standards are horribly stringent compared to Erupe and I think it is time for cars companies to fight back. We are so overregulated for no good reason. I wisht there was a way to save off the program on my car so I could reinstall it with a thumb drive.

The EPA is the sinner here...and everywhere.

[Chickensoup]

The real scandal is that the EPA forces automobile companies like Volkswagen to kill their vehicles’ performance and gas mileage with ridiculous emissions control features and also makes customers submit to the emissions tests.

++++++++++++++++++++

YOu are so right about this. I am a VW owner and have a TDI. US emmissions standards are horribly stringent compared to Erupe and I think it is time for cars companies to fight back. We are so overregulated for no good reason. I wisht there was a way to save off the program on my car so I could reinstall it with a thumb drive.

The EPA is the sinner here...and everywhere.

[Chickensoup]

Bull.