1990 Volkswagen Cabriolet Bestseller Convertible 2-door 1.8l on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Defying Trump, major automakers finalize California emissions deal

WASHINGTON — The California Air Resources Board (CARB) and major automakers on Monday confirmed they had finalized binding agreements to cut vehicle emissions in the state, defying the Trump administration's push for weaker curbs on tailpipe pollution. The agreements with carmakers Ford Motor Co, Volkswagen AG, Honda Motor Co and BMW AG were first announced in July 2019 as voluntary measures prompting anger from U.S. President Donald Trump. A month later, the Justice Department opened an antitrust probe into the agreements. The government ended the investigation without action. The Trump administration in March finalized a rollback of U.S. vehicle emissions standards to require 1.5% annual increases in efficiency through 2026. That is far weaker than the 5% annual increases in the discarded rules adopted under President Barack Obama. The 50-page California agreements, which extend through 2026, are less onerous than the standards finalized by the Obama administration but tougher than the Trump administration standards. The automakers have also agreed to electric vehicle commitments. Volvo Cars, owned by China's Geely Holdings, said in March it planned to join the automakers agreeing to the California requirements. It has also finalized its agreement. The settlement agreements say California and automakers agreed to resolve "potential legal disputes concerning the authority of CARB" and other states that have adopted California's standards. In May, a group of 23 U.S. states led by California and some major cities, challenged the Trump vehicle emissions rule. Other major automakers like General Motors Co, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV and Toyota Motor Corp did not join the California agreement. Those companies also sided with the Trump administration in a separate lawsuit over whether the federal government can strip California of the right to set zero emission vehicle requirements. Ford said the "final agreement will reduce emissions in our vehicles at a more stringent rate, support and incentivize the production of electrified products, and create regulatory certainty." BMW said "by setting these long-term, predictable, and achievable standards, we have the regulatory certainty that is necessary for long-term planning that will not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions but ultimately benefit consumers as well." 

Winterkorn steps down as CEO of Porsche SE

Martin Winterkorn's departure from all things related to the Volkswagen Group is nearing completion. After having stepped down as chairman of the automaker's executive board nearly a month ago in the wake of the automaker's diesel emissions scandal, he's now leaving the direction of the company's principal shareholder, as well. After VW acquired Porsche (the automaker) several years ago, and in turn was principally acquired by Porsche (the holding company), the latter installed Winterkorn as its chief executive officer in order to cement ties between the parties. He's served as chairman of the executive board (German-speak for CEO) at Porsche Automobil Holding SE ever since, but he's now officially resigned from that position. In his place, the holding company has named Hans Dieter Potsch as its new chief exec. Potsch was also recently named as chairman of the supervisory board of the Volkswagen Group, having served until now as CFO of both VW AG and of Porsche SE. Winterkorn's principal successor at the helm of daily operations at VW is Matthias Muller, formerly CEO of the Porsche auto brand and now CEO of the entire VW group. The development brings Winterkorn's exit closer to completion. However the departing executive still, for the time being, remains at the head of group divisions Audi, Scania, and Truck & Bus GmbH. We don't expect it will be much longer, however, before he formally resigns from those chairmanships as well. Related Video: Porsche SE: Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn ceases function as member and chairman of the executive board Successor as chairman will be chief financial officer Hans Dieter Potsch Stuttgart, 17. October 2015. Porsche Automobil Holding SE, Stuttgart ("Porsche SE"), reached an agreement with Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn that he ceases his function as member and chairman of the executive board of Porsche SE by the end of October 31, 2015. Dr. Wolfgang Porsche, chairman of the supervisory board of Porsche SE, thanked Prof. Dr. Winterkorn for the successful work in previous years: "Prof. Dr. Winterkorn assumed office as chairman of the executive board of Porsche SE in a difficult situation. He played a significant role in transforming our company into a highly professional investment holding. I would like to express my gratitude on behalf of the entire supervisory board." Hans Dieter Potsch, chief financial officer of Porsche SE, was appointed by the supervisory board to succeed Prof. Dr.

Volkswagen Passat gets classier styling, tech updates for 2016

Volkswagen revealed a snazzier-looking, better-equipped version of the Passat Monday evening, which will start at $23,260 when it goes on sale as a 2016 model late this fall. The refresh updates VW's midsize sedan, though the changes are mostly evolutionary, and they come as Volkswagen is mired in scandal following charges it cheated on EPA tests. The design features a new hood, grille, rear bumpers, and front fenders. It's also the first VW sedan to offer LED head- and taillights as an option, and the 2016 version is the first Passat to get an R-Line package, which includes black accents, 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels, and a custom front bumper. "We applied a progressive design strategy with the new Passat, giving the car a dynamic presence and a more sophisticated look," Klaus Bischoff, Volkswagen head of design, said in a statement. "We have integrated several new design elements, including a sculpted, domed hood that significantly sets the car apart from its predecessor." Inside, the cabin gets nicer materials, including chrome and piano-black trim, a new steering wheel, and available heated rear seats. VW's second-generation modular infotainment platform is standard, and it offers swiping and pinch-to-zoom features on most models. Volkswagen's Car-Net system is also available, which allows for smoother smartphone integration. The powertrain lineup carries over and is made up of the 1.8-liter turbo four-cylinder, 2.0-liter turbo diesel, and a 3.6-liter V6. It's unclear if the TDI model will be offered at launch in light of VW's recent diesel scandal. VOLKSWAGEN UNVEILS NEW 2016 PASSAT WITH STRIKING DESIGN, INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY AND ENHANCED VALUE The Chattanooga-built Passat raises the bar in the midsize segment, offering new styling inside and out as well as a host of new connectivity and driver assistance features • Striking new front and rear design • New interior with updated instrument panel and center stack for a more premium feel • Standard MIB II infotainment system includes USB connectivity • Available VW Car-Net® App-Connect supports smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay®, Android Auto™ and MirrorLink® • Energy-efficient LED headlights and taillights available for the first time on a VW sedan • New driver assistance systems are standard features on select trim levels • First-ever R-Line® trim for U.S.