1981 Vw Rabbit Pick Up Diesel on 2040-cars

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Thanks to VW, BMW's 2017 diesels will be delayed

BMW confirmed Monday that US sales for its model-year 2017 diesel vehicles will be delayed because US regulators are taking longer than expected to certify the models. Bimmer, which sells diesel-powered 3-Series, 5-Series, X3, and X5 vehicles in the US, didn't give a timetable of when such domestic sales would start. Autoguide had previously reported of the potential delay for sales of US diesels, which account for about six percent of BMW's total sales in the US. "The product certification of all MY2017 BMW diesel models (328d Sedan, 328d Sports Wagon, X3 xDrive28d, X5 xDrive35d) has been delayed due to testing logistics," BMW spokeswoman Rebecca Kiehne wrote in an e-mail to Autoblog. "As a result, production of these models will commence once homologation has been finalized." US regulators appear to be taking a more deliberate approach to certifying diesel vehicles in the wake of the Volkswagen diesel-emissions scandal, which broke last September. Late last month, VW reached a settlement with US regulators that will cost the German automaker about $15 billion. With about a half-million impacted VW vehicles on US roads, the company will repurchase cars, end leases early, maybe fix some vehicles, and improve zero-emission vehicle technologies. Additionally, last week, VW reportedly told US dealers that they'd be compensated an undisclosed amount for their troubles. Some 2016 BMW diesel models were already subject to more stringent US testing procedures because of the VW situation. The BMW X5 xDrive35d was among the models that underwent more rigorous testing from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) late last year. Other diesel models that received the additional scrutiny included General Motors' 2016 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. Related Video:

Carlex Criollo is a Volkswagen Multivan shrine to Alcantara, leather and... fish

A keen angler recently went to Polish tuner Carlex Design (the same folks who did that steampunk Mini Countryman a while back) for a revamp of his Volkswagen Multivan. What resulted is perhaps the most striking - yet fishing-unfriendly - interior we've ever seen in a van. Below the shoulder line, if a surface isn't covered in cross-stitched Alcantara, then it's covered in cross-stitched leather. Even the steering wheel airbag boss. And the seat supports. And the cupholders.
The brown hue of the Multivan's interior is called Criollo, named for an especially fine specimen of cocoa. The finishing touch on the overhaul is a fileting knife that Carlex made for the owner. We imagine he'll use the knife for the marine life, but keep his van far away from it.

Volkswagen e-Co-Motion concept poised for delivery to Geneva

With Nissan getting ready to launch the e-NV200, it appears Volkswagen is looking to go after the same zero-emission commercial vehicle market with the all-electric 2013 e-Co-Motion Concept. Debuting next week at the Geneva Motor Show, the e-Co-Motion Concept might be small in size, but VW says it has cargo and payload capacities that should be perfect for small businesses.
Measuring 179 inches long, 75 inches wide and 77 inches tall, the e-Co-Motion Concept has about the same footprint as the current Golf, and it has a cargo capacity of 162 cubic feet and a maximum payload of more than 1,700 pounds. There isn't too much information on the e-Co-Motion just yet - such as what electric components and platform are used - but the press release posted below states while the concept is shown as a cargo van, future body styles could include a passenger wagon or a refrigerated box van.