1985 Volkswagen Cabriolet Wolfsburg Collectors Edition Convertible Red Low Miles on 2040-cars

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VW CEO Winterkorn issues video apology for diesel scandal

Amid rumors that he might step down from the automaker, Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn has issued a video statement publicly apologizing for the company's diesel emissions scandal. The boss claims that he doesn't have the answers to all of the questions yet but promises a thorough investigation to makes things right. Multiple times in the speech, he asks forgiveness from customers all over the world and asks people not to blame all of the company's 600,000 employees for this lapse. At no point does Winterkorn mention resigning, though. You can watch the whole clip above, but it's in German, so turn on the subtitles. However, Winterkorn's future with VW isn't assured, and works council boss Bernd Osterloh appears ready to make some changes. "I can assure you that we will do everything possible in the supervisory board meetings this week to ensure the matter is cleared up quickly and that personnel consequences are drawn. And that will not just affect the rank and file, I can assure you," he said in a letter to Bild, according to Reuters. Earlier today, the automaker admitted that the same engine management software is in vehicles from other VW group brands, but it claims that the Type EA 189 engine is the only one with a deviation between test results and real-world numbers. That mill is installed in 11 million vehicles across the globe. As a start, VW is earmarking 6.5 billion euros ($7.3 billion at current rates) to service them. The actual costs could go much higher, though.

Volkswagen showcasing latest emergency vehicles at RETTmobil

RETTmobil may not be the top show on our calendars, but it's the top destination for police and emergency vehicles in Europe. The show opens this week in Fulda, Germany, and Volkswagen has revealed some of the vehicles it'll be presenting to first responders there this year. Leading the charge will be the new Golf Alltrack that has been set up specially as a command car, with special lighting, graphics and equipment like an accident data recorder and unique control panel. It'll be joined as well by specially equipped versions of the Passat, Tiguan and Touareg. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles will also be on hand to showcase an Amarok pickup set up as a beach patrol car (you know, just in case Hasselhoff happens to be in town for the show), as well as a Transporter T6 van set up as an armored personnel carrier and a Crafter ambulance. Volkswagen prasentiert sich auf der RETTmobil 2015 - Golf Alltrack erstmals als Kommandowagen vorgestellt - Transporter T6 feiert Premiere als Mannschaftstransportwagen Hannover / Fulda, 4. Mai 2015 – Mit einer vielfaltigen Produktpalette prasentiert sich Volkswagen ab dem 6. Mai auf der RETTmobil 2015. Messehighlights sind der neue Volkswagen Transporter, der seine Premiere als Mannschaftstransportwagen feiert und der neue Golf Alltrack, der dort erstmals als Kommandowagen zu sehen ist. Bis zum 8. Mai konnen sich Besucher auf der internationalen Leitmesse fur Rettung und Mobilitat in Fulda uber Sonderfahrzeuge fur Rettungseinsatz und Krankentransport informieren. Am Volkswagen Messestand (Halle 3, Stand 303) prasentieren ein speziell ausgestatteter Golf Alltrack und ein Passat Variant 4Motion, das vielfaltige Leistungsspektrum der Marke Volkswagen Pkw fur den Rettungseinsatz. Beide Modelle sind als Kommandowagen aufgebaut und verfugen uber eine umfangreiche Sonderausstattung fur den Einsatz-betrieb wie etwa Digitalfunkvorbereitung, ein Sondertastenbedienfeld und eine Sondersignalanlage mit Blaulichtleuchte. Die Fahrzeuge sind ausserdem mit dem Unfalldatenspeicher UDS ausgestattet, der den Ablauf eines Ereignisses gerichtsverwertbar dokumentiert. Ein besonderes Messehighlight ist der neue Transporter T6 als Mannschaftstransportwagen. Das beliebte Einsatzfahrzeug von Feuerwehr und Rettung wird farblich passend in Rot-Weiss vorgestellt und bietet mit bis zu funf Einzelsitzen viel Platz fur das Einsatzpersonal und die notwendige Ausrustung.

Recharge Wrap-up: Arcimoto SRK video, BAIC EV at CES

Kelley Blue Book took a spin in the Arcimoto SRK three-wheeled EV at CES in Las Vegas. In the video above, KBB Managing Editor Micah Muzio gets behind the handlebars for a spin around an empty parking lot. He notes a gradual throttle tip-in, though from the video, it appears the trike has a bit of pep. While the hydraulic brake pedal requires a bit of extra effort, the regenerative brake lever located on the right handlebar is effective and easy to use. The steering is a little heavy, but manageable, at low speeds. He calls it "kind of a fun little conveyance," adding, "Maybe this is the future." See the full review in the video above. CARB Chairman Mary Nichols spoke with German television about Volkswagen's emissions scandal. In a photo she posted on Twitter, Nichols can be seen in front of cameras with CARB's test bay in the background. In the bay is a Volkswagen Jetta TDI. She says in her tweet, "Discussing VW cheating case w/German TV in front of ARB lab test bay & '07 diesel Jetta. Time to move on to #EVs!" Late last year, a group of environmentalists and Silicon Valley leaders – Elon Musk included – sent Nichols an open letter suggesting CARB help urge Volkswagen to give up on diesels and focus on electric vehicles. See Nichols's post on Twitter. South Korea's most popular EV is the Renault Samsung Motors (RSM) SM3 ZE (also known as the Renault Fluence ZE). The all-electric vehicle has sold 1,767 units since its arrival in Korea since November 2013, with 2015 sales reaching 1,043 units. This makes one in three EVs in Korea a RSM SM3 ZE. The car has been selected as Korea's official government vehicle, and RSM has supplied over 100 EV taxis, 60 of which are in Seoul. Read more in the press release from Renault. BAIC EV announced it has established an R&D center in Detroit at CES. It will work with its other centers in Silicon Valley and Aachen, Germany in order to develop automotive technology and evaluate global demand. The EV branch of the Chinese automaker also debuted its i-Link information system, which uses 4G to connect car telematics to the cloud. The i-Link system also provides wireless phone charging, remote inquiry services and connects sensing technologies to the internet. Read more in the press release below.