Author: Liam

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Audi Skoda Volkswagen

Volkswagen Group Australia suspends TDI sales

Volkswagen Tiguan 130TDI

The noxgate issue has become very real for local car buyers after Volkswagen Group Australia this morning issued a statement announcing that all sales of models fitted with 1.6 litre and 2.0 litre EA189 diesel engines have been suspended:

“Volkswagen Group Australia (VGA) met with the relevant government authorities yesterday to advise them of its strategy in Australia to address concerns that have been raised around the world regarding the diesel emissions issue.

“In its first step, effective immediately VGA has temporarily suspended the sale of affected vehicles fitted with 1.6 or 2.0-litre EA189 diesel engines. The suspension will remain until the emission issues are addressed in those vehicles.

“VGA will make further announcements next week.”

If you already own a vehicle with one of these diesel engines it remains safe to drive.

Other Volkswagen Group models fitted with different diesel engines do not feature the controversial defeat device, designed to cheat emissions tests, and remain unaffected.

It’s understood there are over 1000 affected vehicles in holding yards around the country. A list of suspended models is shown below:

Audi

  • A4 2.0 TDI
  • A5 2.0 TDI
  • Q5 2.0 TDI

Skoda

  • Yeti
  • Superb

Volkswagen

  • Caddy
  • Jetta
  • Passat
  • Passat CC
  • Tiguan

This list may not be exhaustive, if you have concerns please check with the relevant manufacturer using the numbers below:

  • Audi: 1800 502 834
  • Skoda: 1800 607 540​
  • Volkswagen: 1800 607 822

[Source: motoring.com.au | Thanks to John for the tip]

Categories
Porsche

Porsche being sued over Paul Walker’s death

Porsche Carrera GT

Paul Walker was killed in late 2013 while taking a ride in a 2005 Porsche Carrera GT. Walker’s friend Roger Rodas was driving at the time of the accident. Excessive speed is thought to have been the main cause of the accident, but Porsche is now being forced to defend itself following news that Walker’s daughter, Meadow Walker, is filing a wrongful death suit against the company.

The lawsuit claims, “the vehicle lacked safety features that are found on well-designed racing cars or even Porsche’s least expensive road cars—features that could have prevented the accident or, at a minimum, allowed Paul Walker to survive the crash.”

It’s also claimed that the seatbelt design of the Carrera GT was faulty and contributed to Walker’s death.

In response Porsche states, “We are very sad whenever anyone is hurt in a Porsche vehicle, but we believe the authorities’ reports in this case clearly establish that this tragic crash resulted from reckless driving and excessive speed.”

[Source: CNN, The Guardian & Variety]

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Alfa Romeo Auto Art Ferrari Porsche

Arthur Schening delivers Porsche 917 masterpiece

Porsche 917 by Arthur Schening

You may remember a chap by the name of Arthur Schening who we featured earlier this year. He’s a graphic designer by day and automotive artist by night. Here’s one of his latest releases, the beautiful Porsche 917K in Gulf Racing livery.

Having purchased a couple of pieces already we can vouch for the quality of the prints supplied by Schening and we’re going to find it very hard to resist ordering a copy of this 917 artwork.

For those of you not so inflicted with the Porsche disease perhaps this Ferrari 512M or Alfa Romeo Giula TZ2 may tempt you.

[Source: Schening Creative]

Categories
Porsche Video

VIDEO: Sabine says you should buy a 911 GT3

Sabine Schmitz, Porsche 911 GT3, Nurburgring

The Queen of the Nürburgring, Sabine Schmitz, was sent out to lap the Nordschleife in a new Porsche 911 GT3 by the folks from RSR Nürburg. Her conclusion is not really much of a surprise, but the clip is worth a watch nonethless. And for the females viewing, make sure you catch Sabine’s pro-tip for tackling the Karussell.

Continue reading “VIDEO: Sabine says you should buy a 911 GT3”
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Porsche Volkswagen

Porsche boss takes on VW CEO position

Matthias Muller

Matthias Müller will move from his role as Porsche CEO into the Volkswagen Group CEO seat left vacant by the disgraced Martin Winterkorn.

On his appointment Müller said: “My most urgent task is to win back trust for the Volkswagen Group—by leaving no stone unturned and with maximum transparency, as well as drawing the right conclusions from the current situation.

“Under my leadership, Volkswagen will do everything it can to develop and implement the most stringent compliance and governance standards in our industry.”

Of course, you’d expect there to be glowing praise for Müller coming from inside Volkswagen and Bernd Osterloh, Chairman of the Group Works Council, has stepped up stating: “When it comes to leadership appointments the Volkswagen Group does not need hasty decisions. We know and value Matthias Müller for his determination and decisiveness. He does not work on his own, rather he is a team player. That is what Volkswagen needs now.”

Müller began his Volkswagen Group with Audi in the 1970s and and has also held positions with Seat, Lamborghini and Volkswagen during his rise to the top of the Volkswagen Group tree.

Meanwhile, Volkswagen says that five million of the 11 million vehicles affected worldwide by the noxgate scandal are Volkswagen products and those fitted with the affected EA189 2.0 TDI engines include the Golf VI, Passat VII and Tiguan.

Dr Herbert Diess, CEO of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand stressed: “We are working at full speed on a technical solution that we will present to partners, to our customers and to the public as swiftly as possible. Our aim is to inform our customers as quickly as possible, so that their vehicles comply fully with regulations. I assure you that Volkswagen will do everything humanly possible to win back the trust of our customers, the dealerships and the public.”

For its part Volkswagen Australia remains eerily silent on the issue, with no official press releases or comment on its website about the noxgate drama.

Continue reading “Porsche boss takes on VW CEO position”
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BMW

BMW responds to noxgate claims

BMW X3

German publication Auto Bild has dragged BMW into Volkswagen’s noxgate scandal. It claims the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) conducted tests on the diesel-powered BMW X3 20d Xdrive and found it produced more than 11 times the allowed NOx emissions under Euro6 regulations.

BMW has been quick to respond with an official statement saying all of its vehicles comply with relevant laws and that it “does not manipulate or rig any emissions tests.”

Despite this BMW’s shares still took a hit, although nothing as severe as we saw with Volkswagen this week. Fallout continues for Volkswagen with its CEO resigning in disgrace and expectations more executives will be moved on.

[via Jalopnik & CNBC]

Continue reading “BMW responds to noxgate claims”
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Mercedes-Benz Motor Shows Video

“It’s a proper AMG”

Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG

Chris Harris interrupts the bad news from Volkswagen to take for a spin in the updated and softer Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG. Don’t worry, that’s softer in a good way, as he explains.

You lot obviously don’t watch Harris’ motor show videos enough so he has spliced his A45 review in among his walk around the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Continue reading ““It’s a proper AMG””
Categories
Volkswagen

Winterkorn walks over noxgate

Prof Dr Martin Winterkorn

Martin Winterkorn has resigned as Volkswagen Group CEO over the noxgate scandal. He has released a media statement which reads:

I am shocked by the events of the past few days. Above all, I am stunned that misconduct on such a scale was possible in the Volkswagen Group.

As CEO I accept responsibility for the irregularities that have been found in diesel engines and have therefore requested the Supervisory Board to agree on terminating my function as CEO of the Volkswagen Group. I am doing this in the interests of the company even though I am not aware of any wrong doing on my part.

Volkswagen needs a fresh start – also in terms of personnel. I am clearing the way for this fresh start with my resignation.

I have always been driven by my desire to serve this company, especially our customers and employees. Volkswagen has been, is and will always be my life.

The process of clarification and transparency must continue. This is the only way to win back trust. I am convinced that the Volkswagen Group and its team will overcome this grave crisis.

The Executive Committee of Volkswagen’s Supervisory Board has responded with nine conclusions, which include thanking Winterkorn for his leadership and offer to resign as well as clearing the pathway for more management exits to follow in light of possible criminal proceedings. You can read the board’s statements below.

Continue reading “Winterkorn walks over noxgate”
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Audi Video Volkswagen

Volkswagen CEO’s mea culpa on noxgate

Prof Dr Martin Winterkorn, Volkswagen AG CEO, offers up this mea culpa in response to noxgate; the diesel NOx emissions issue which Volkswagen says affects up to 11 million vehicles worldwide.

In a new statement Volkswagen says all new diesel vehicles which meet EU6 emissions are not affected by this scandal. However, if your diesel powered Volkswagen or Audi A3 is powered by an EA189 2.0 TDI engine then your car is right in the middle of the deceit which Volkswagen has overseen.

For some technical explanation as to why Volkswagen might have thought cheating emissions tests was a good idea, check out this reddit thread.

This is going to be a very sticky mess for Volkswagen to extricate itself from.

If you own a car affected by this deceit please tell us below how you feel. Can Volkswagen ever win back your trust?

Continue reading “Volkswagen CEO’s mea culpa on noxgate”
Categories
Audi Volkswagen

Volkswagen shares go up in smoke

VW Golf GTD

Volkswagen’s shares have plummeted more than 18% in Germany as the company suffers the fallout from its diesel emissions scandal in the United States.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency Volkswagen and Audi are in breach of California’s Clean Air Act after the manufacturers created software to deliberately cheat emissions testing. As a result, the EPA claims four-cylinder diesel powered models built between 2009–15 emit as much as 40 times more nitrogen oxides (NOx) than tests showed.

Over 480,000 vehicles are affected and Volkswagen could face penalties of up to US$18 billion, with fines of US$37,500 per vehicle in breach of the relevant laws.

“Using a defeat device in cars to evade clean air standards is illegal and a threat to public health,” said Cynthia Giles, Assistant Administrator for the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Working closely with the California Air Resources Board, EPA is committed to making sure that all automakers play by the same rules. EPA will continue to investigate these very serious matters.”

For its part Volkswagen is preparing to take its medicine with Martin Winterkorn, Volkswagen AG CEO, issuing a statement apologising for the breaches.

“I personally am deeply sorry that we have broken the trust of our customers and the public,” Winterkorn said. “We will cooperate fully with the responsible agencies, with transparency and urgency, to clearly, openly, and completely establish all of the facts of this case.

“We do not and will not tolerate violations of any kind of our internal rules or of the law,” Winterkorn added. “The trust of our customers and the public is and continues to be our most important asset.”

Affected diesel-powered models include:

  • Audi A3 (Model Years 2009–2015)
  • Beetle (Model Years 2009–2015)
  • Golf (Model Years 2009–2015)
  • Jetta (Model Years 2009–2015)
  • Passat (Model Years 2009–2015)
Continue reading “Volkswagen shares go up in smoke”
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Volkswagen

Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport revealed

Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport

The first Golf GTI was released in 1976 and this new Clubsport model is Volkswagen’s birthday present to itself. It’ll be released next year to celebrate the GTI’s 40th anniversary. Visually it’s pretty much as previewed in concept form earlier this year.

Powered by a 2.0 litre turbocharged four cylinder engine with 195kW it’s the most powerful GTI ever. But there’s more! With a 10-second overboost function power briefly peaks at 215kW. Coupled to a 6-speed DSG it’s enough to propel the GTI Clubsport to 100km/h in 5.9 seconds (manual 6.0 secdonds).

That’s all pretty good, but it’s the way this latest GTI looks that’s rocking our world. Finished in classic Oryx White paint and complemented by specially created forged alloy wheels looks awesome. And the aggressive body kit, from the sleek front spoiler to the large rear wing, just works.

Volkswagen Australia, don’t be pricks. Bring this car down under, in three door and with a manual transmission. Seriously!

Continue reading “Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport revealed”
Categories
Bugatti

Bugatti Chiron previewed in gaming fantasy?

Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo

This rather cool looking beast is officially called the Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo. It’s been created for the virtual world only.

“The Bugatti design team normally works only for the exclusive and very distinguished circle of the brand’s customers,” explained Achim Anscheidt, the head of Bugatti Design. “When the target group suddenly grows from 450 Veyron owners to several million fans, gamers and high performance aficionados, it is a very exciting matter. We had a lot of fun with this project.”

Visually the car draws on the Le Mans winning Bugatti Type 57s from 1937 and 1939 and they go to some pains to point out that while this is a fantasyland creation they wanted it to be connected to reality. Indeed, the press release below states, “the virtual race car was developed in close cooperation with the Bugatti engineers and is based on cutting-edge racing technology and precise aerodynamic analyses.”

So let’s add to the speculation and say this is pretty much a concept car for the Chiron, the car tasked with replacing the iconic Veyron. Further adding to that theory is the fact Bugatti will rock up to the Frankfurt Motor Show with a 1:1 scale model of the Vision Gran Turismo.

Of course any such road car, predicted to cost €2.2 million (AU$3.5 million), won’t feature all of the garish wings and aero adornments for racing, but perhaps we’re being prepared for a very much Veyron-inspired evolutionary design.

Continue reading “Bugatti Chiron previewed in gaming fantasy?”