VW News: Volkswagen Still Committed to Diesel

[Drew Dowdell]

Volkswagen is introducing a new generation of diesel engines with the 2.0 TDI Evo. This new engine is said to greatly undercut the limits of the tough new Euro 6d-Temp emissions standards. Volkwagen posted an interview with Sebastian Willmann, the Head of Diesel Engine Development at Volkswagen. In that interview he says that VW was able to reduce fuel consumption by 0.4 L/100km compared to the previous engine and reduce CO2 emissions by 10g/km.  They did both of these things while also increasing power output. 

He further went on to explain that while there is a stigma surrounding diesel engines because of dieselgate, the diesel is still quite popular for its efficiency, range, and torque. Now, with this new engine, it is also substantially cleaner compared to prior engines.  He says that diesels will remain especially effective for vehicles that require a longer range or extra torque for towing.

These statements are in contrast to the direction that VW as a whole is taking in the segment of electric vehicles.  VW has committed billions of euros to the development of an entire EV range.  The first EV, the ID.3 is expected in Europe in early 2020 with top line models having a range of 342 miles on a charge. Reservations of the Volkswagen ID.3 topped 10,000 in its first 24 hours it was available. 

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[riviera74]

We will see if VW can have its cake and eat it too.  I do hope that VW has abandoned its fraudulent ways.

[G. David Felt]

Agree, I hope they can deliver. Interested if they are using the MB urine treatment system in the exhuast or just how they are getting these cleaner emissions.

Being a 2.0L size engine also tells me that they must have figured a bigger engine delivered something that smaller size does not even with a turbo.

[ocnblu]

Very welcome news.  I hope they bring it to the USA.  This tells me loud and clear that customers were asking for it.  Demanding it.

[Drew Dowdell]

On 8/16/2019 at 11:22 AM, dfelt said:

Agree, I hope they can deliver. Interested if they are using the MB urine treatment system in the exhuast or just how they are getting these cleaner emissions.

Being a 2.0L size engine also tells me that they must have figured a bigger engine delivered something that smaller size does not even with a turbo.

It's a 2.0T... that's the size of diesel they've been running for years.  The way they got it this clean was by putting two scrubbers in instead of just one.  Yes, it uses DEF. 

On 8/16/2019 at 7:36 PM, ocnblu said:

Very welcome news.  I hope they bring it to the USA.  This tells me loud and clear that customers were asking for it.  Demanding it.

I hope they do too.... I like variety in the car market. 

[G. David Felt]

VW might have to rethink their plans as 470,000 consumers in Germany alone are suing over Dieselgate. Makes one wonder if they even want to bother with Diesel anymore as we have only heard of the US where VW settled out over Dieselgate, I have to think billions more is going to have to get coughed up to settle this mess.

https://www.autoblog.com/2019/09/30/vw-german-court-case-consumer-settlement/

 

[Drew Dowdell]

3 minutes ago, dfelt said:

VW might have to rethink their plans as 470,000 consumers in Germany alone are suing over Dieselgate. Makes one wonder if they even want to bother with Diesel anymore as we have only heard of the US where VW settled out over Dieselgate, I have to think billions more is going to have to get coughed up to settle this mess.

https://www.autoblog.com/2019/09/30/vw-german-court-case-consumer-settlement/

 

Diesel sales are still a significant portion of overall sales over there these days.  As long as the new diesels are actually cleaner as they say they are, then I see no problem with still offering them.   In the US, I think the VW diesel days are over. 

[G. David Felt]

Seems the final nails might just be coming from the German Courts in regards to Diesel Gate.

https://www.autoblog.com/2020/05/05/vw-diesel-emissions-damages-court-ruling-germany/

Germany's court has dismissed VW claim that customers have no rights to damage claims since the auto's were never taken off the road unlike in America. 

Due to the reduced value and lack of resale of diesel auto's that were part of Diesel gate the German Courts have stated that customers DO HAVE THE RIGHT to Damage Claims. 

As such, while VW will continue to fight this, one does have to wonder how many more Billions it will cost VW. On top of this, it opens up the gates to Damage Claims to be brought against BMW and Mercedes Benz.

[G. David Felt]

If anyone thinks VW will still have Diesel after this I have ocean front property to sell you in Colorado.

https://jalopnik.com/volkswagen-could-face-billions-in-new-fines-over-diesel-1843856085

Seems the 9th US circuit court of appeals has sided unanimously with Utah and Florida about the excessive environmental damage VW diesel auto's have caused. The two states had a combined 6,100 VW Diesel auto's and each place has a $5,000 a day fine for pollution. This ruling makes the potential penalties $30.6 million per day or $11.2 billion per year.

VW has committed to appeal this judgment to the next higher court.

This makes me wonder if this could be the breaking point for VW in forcing them into Bankruptcy. ?