2011 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen Tdi on 2040-cars

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VW of America boss Horn was aware of diesel cheat 18 months ago

We're just going to make a prediction: Volkswagen of America boss Michael Horn's congressional testimony, slated to begin today, is not going to go well. Based on a written testimony submitted by Horn, the exec is expected to tell Congress he knew his company was violating emissions regulations at least 18 months before it actually came clean. "In the spring of 2014... I was told that there was a possible emissions non-compliance that could be remedied," Horn wrote, in testimony published on the US House of Representatives' website (PDF warning). "I was informed that EPA regulations included various penalties for non-compliance with the emissions standards and that the agencies can conduct engineering tests which could include 'defeat device' testing or analysis. I was also informed that the company engineers would work with the agencies to resolve the issue." Horn's written testimony went on to outline how the company will "develop a remedy for our customers." It includes five points, ranging from the "world-wide investigation" being conducted by the company to reassurances that VW's engineers are "working tirelessly" on fixes to the four-cylinder diesel problems. Horn went on to confirm that each generation of the affected diesel – there are three – will require its own distinct fix. Finally, Horn went on to say that the company will "examine our compliance, processes, and standards" to prevent a repeat of the diesel catastrophe, while promising "open communication with our customers, dealers, employees, and the public as we move forward." We've included Horn's complete, three-page written testimony below. Have a look. Testimony of Michael Horn, President and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. Before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations October 8, 2015 Chairman Upton, Chairman Murphy, Ranking Member Pallone, Ranking Member DeGette, other Members of the Committee, thank you for inviting me to testify before the Committee today. My name is Michael Horn, and I am the President and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. I have volunteered to come before this Committee at the very outset of these inquiries in an effort to show our commitment to cooperation. We have not had the opportunity to review all aspects of this matter, indeed the investigation is just beginning.

2014 Volkswagen XL1 [w/video]

World's Most Efficient Car Impresses, Not Without Compromises
Among our many duties at the recent Geneva Motor Show, we were offered a pretty exclusive drive in the new Volkswagen XL1 hyper-efficient plug-in diesel hybrid. There is so much that is interesting about a car like this reaching production from a major automaker that it's tough to know where to begin.
First off, you should know that - at least for this generation - there is absolutely no chance in Albuquerque that this "1-liter vehicle" (i.e. a vehicle that can burn just one liter of fuel to travel 100 kilometers, or 62.1 miles) will ever make it into the hands of North American customers. We, too, were having trouble imagining an XL1 in typical American traffic, surrounded by comparatively massive pickups and SUVs. The driving experience had us recalling a couple of weeks in 1999 when we drove the then-revolutionary Honda Insight hybrid on US roads. We keenly remember the feeling of being very small and vulnerable, even as we felt proudly green in our 61-mpg Tochigi pod. Thing is, the Volkswagen is smaller still, and nearly as light despite its more complex drivetrain and safety features.

Next VW Camper van concept to be electric

The next-generation Volkswagen Transporter workhorse van (teased above) debuts on April 15, but VW is also working on a more retro-inspired van concept that would be motivated by electric power. Dr. Heinz-Jakob Neusser, Volkswagen development boss on the automotive giant's board of management, described the upcoming Camper concept to Autocar at the New York Auto Show. On the outside, the model would feature a wide D-pillar, boxy design and small front overhang to maintain a classic look. "The distance from the A-pillar to the front end must be very short," he said to Autocar. For power, an electric motor would spin the front axle, and the batteries would be located under the floor. Dr. Neusser was clear that the electric van was just a concept but didn't say when it might debut. He also didn't indicate if the vehicle shared a platform with the new T6 or some over model in the company's lineup. VW has been toying with building a retro-style van for over a decade. In 2001, it showed the Microbus concept, and a decade later there was the Bulli. Neither of them ever actually saw production.