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German prosecutors have recorded calls between VW bigwigs talking dieselgate

It's barely possible to believe how poorly Volkswagen continues to handle dieselgate. Depending on which day you catch the news, the German carmaker embodies the corporate venality of "Michael Clayton," the comic blundering of the Coen Brothers' "Burn After Reading," and the every-man-for-himself vengeance of "Reservoir Dogs." Today is Tarantino day, with news that German prosecutors have recordings of phone calls between former Audi and Porsche development boss Wolfgang Hatz, ex-Volkswagen Group executive Matthias Muller, and current Porsche executives Oliver Blume and Michael Steiner. Hatz made the calls to the trio in November 2015, two months after Volkswagen admitted its diesel-particulate sins to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Hatz was still employed at the time, and in his company car. Who recorded the calls? His wife. Hatz and his missus apparently saw the storm coming and started stacking defenses early. Hatz's wife, who can be heard encouraging Hatz during at least one call, sent the recordings to Hatz's attorney from her mobile phone. According to a Google translation of the German newspaper Handelsblatt's report, she included the note, "Here is a very long, but quite informative conversation on the current situation with useful formulations." The report in Handelsblatt said that in Germany it is generally "not allowed" to record a conversation and pass it on to a third party. We don't know how the authorities will handle this matter, since prosecutors found the recordings in e-mail attachments on Mrs. Hatz's mobile phone. Remember, when the diesel scandal broke, VW spent months saying that only a small number of low-level personnel were behind it, and all of the higher-ups had been blindsided. Ex-CEO Martin Winterkorn claimed to be "stunned that misconduct on such a scale was possible in the Volkswagen Group." Winterkorn successor Matthias Muller said, "according to current information, a few developers interfered in the engine management." Former VW USA honcho Michael Horn told a congressional committee that "a couple of software engineers" programmed the software for reasons no one could understand. In the recorded conversations, Hatz apparently called Muller to find out how VW planned to treat him.

2016 VW Passat starts at $23,260

With the recent reveal of the 2016 Volkswagen Passat, VW has shown a refusal to let the company's diesel-emissions scandal keep it from launching updated models in the US. When the sheet came off, the company told us that the refreshed sedan would start at $23,260, after the $820 destination charge on all versions. Now, we're getting the pricing details for the entire revised lineup. On all but the very top model, buyers get a 1.8 TSI turbo four-cylinder with 170 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque and six-speed automatic transmission. The base Passat S offers that combo for the same price as last year, but VW claims $1,315 in extra equipment is now included, like a five-inch MIB II infotainment system and automatic post-collision braking system. An optional LED lighting package runs $1,245 on the S, but prices differ on other levels. Pricing has not been released for the 2016 Passat TDI. That model needs a fix for its emissions cheating software before it can be certified by the EPA, and go on sale. Jumping to the Passat R-Line for $24,975 gets buyers black accents on the front bumper, 19-inch wheels and a tweaked rear diffuser. Another $775 adds the R-Line comfort package with a power driver's seat, heated front chairs, leatherette upholstery, and heat for the exterior mirrors and washer nozzles. Paying $27,100 for the Passat SE includes amenities like 17-inch wheels, a sunroof, 6.3-inch MIB II system, and adaptive cruise control. In addition, there's the SE with Technology for $29,230 with a blind-spot monitoring, push-button start, rear-traffic alert, navigation, rain-sensing wipers, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. The next step up is the SEL for $31,315 with a plethora of extra luxuries. It gets 18-inch wheels, an upgraded Fender stereo, Vienna leather seats, power front chairs, and a rear pass-through. Sitting at the top of the range is the SEL Premium for $35,090. This trim has even more tech, including lane departure warning with active steering, active blind-spot monitor, front and rear park-distance control, and parking steering assistant. The LED lights are standard, as well. Plus, for $37,655 buyers can get the V6 SEL Premium with a 3.6-liter VR6. It makes 280 hp and 258 lb-ft and is linked to a six-speed DSG. Getting the bigger engine also adds dual trapezoidal chrome exhaust tips and Hill Hold Control.

VW spending $10 million on EV infrastructure, calls on Congress for help

It must be the season of big EV infrastructure announcements. In the last few days, we've heard from Bollore in France, PG&E in California and now VW. The German automaker says it will spend a total of $10 million on electric vehicle charging infrastructure by 2016. That includes the previously announced ChargePoint investment VW made with BMW and work the automaker is doing to get chargers for cars like the e-Golf installed as its dealerships. But Jorg Sommer, Volkswagen of America'sl VP of product marketing and strategy, said today in Washington, DC that automakers need help from the federal, state and local governments to turn electric mobility into a thing. Speaking at the 2015 Electric Drive Congress, Sommer said VW would like the Feds to support fast charging networks in urban areas as well as interstate corridors and that governments should "commit to cleaner fleets by purchasing EVs and PHEVs. This should be a US Government priority," he said. He also suggested that the plug-in vehicle multiplier credits under the EPA's greenhouse gas regulations should be extended beyond the 2021 model year. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA TO INVEST $10 MILLION IN ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE BY 2016 Feb 10, 2015 Washington, D.C., February 10, 2015 – Jorg Sommer, vice president, product marketing and strategy, Volkswagen of America, today presented Volkswagen's holistic approach to e-mobility surrounding the launch of the zero-tailpipe emissions 2015 e-Golf, including a $10 million commitment to support electric vehicle infrastructure by 2016. During a presentation delivered at the 2015 Electric Drive Congress in Washington D.C., Sommer stated that Volkswagen believes continued legislative support is needed to reach the next level of electric vehicle adoption. "Automakers have effectively delivered electric vehicles that can satisfy the needs of most American drivers," said Sommer. "In addition to the investment we and other companies and industries are making, we would like to see Federal financing support for establishing fast charging networks in urban areas and interstate corridors. We'd like to see more state and federal organizations commit to cleaner fleets by purchasing EVs and PHEVs. This should be a U.S. Government priority, and federal purchasing guidelines should reflect that by giving fleet purchasers the flexibility they need," Sommer said.