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VW will expand goodwill package to larger diesels

Volkswagen Group of America will expand its goodwill package to affected owners of the VW Touareg and other models with the 3.0 TDI. The company may also replace the catalytic converter on some cars equipped with the 2.0-liter four-cylinder TDI engine to bring it into compliance with US emissions. VW Group of America boss Michael Horn told Reuters he plans announce the goodwill program's expansion to the 2009-2016 Touareg during the Detroit Auto Show, and company spokesperson Jeannine Ginivan also confirmed this to Autoblog. Audi intends to extend the offer to its affected owners, too. As with the previous goodwill package, participating customers would receive a $500 prepaid Visa card and $500 to use at dealers. The EPA issued a violation notice against the 3.0 TDI in November and later extended it to additional model years. Audi later admitted that the engine, which was also in the Touareg and Porsche Cayenne, had undisclosed emissions management software. However, the automaker limited the goodwill package only to the 2.0-liter powerplant while it investigated the allegations against the larger mill. VW has not announced a recall plan in the US for the 2.0 TDI so far, but VW Group CEO Matthias Muller recently outlined a possible solution that could fix about 430,000 of the 482,000 affected vehicles. "We have one [catalytic converter] in the works and we believe that will be a part of the technical solutions," he told Reuters. Muller plans to discuss the repair while in Washington D.C. on Wednesday to meet with the EPA. "I think we can now offer a package that will come very close to what the EPA is expecting from us," Muller said to Reuters. He also suggested the company might buy back some affected models but didn't confirm the recent rumor claiming that the buy-back may cover as many as 115,000 cars.

Volkswagen sketches Geneva-bound concept

Volkswagen has released a pair of sketches that give us our first official glimpse at the company's new concept car, set to debut at the Geneva Motor Show next week. Details are slim – the car doesn't even have a name yet – but we do have some facts about VW's swoopy new showcar. First off, it's a sedan – well, "four-door coupe" – but is said to have a hatchback configuration. Autoblog has also learned that the car will be powered by a hybrid powertrain, using a TSI gasoline engine paired with two electric motors, and uses an all-wheel-drive configuration that's likely similar to that in the recently unveiled Cross Coupe GTE concept. Volkswagen says this showcar uses a new, progressive design language for the brand. And while it sort of looks like a dead ringer for a new CC, we're told this concept is positioned above that model. For now, that's all we know, but we expect a host of other details to be released closer to the car's official debut in Geneva next week. Stay tuned. Related Gallery Volkswagen Geneva Showcar Sketches News Source: Volkswagen Design/Style Green Geneva Motor Show Volkswagen Concept Cars Hybrid Sedan 2015 Geneva Motor Show

French probe alleges 2 million PSA cars had engine cheats

PARIS — A French investigation into alleged emissions cheating by PSA Group found that suspect software had been used on almost 2 million vehicles sold by the maker of Peugeot and Citroen cars, Le Monde reported on Friday. Paris-based PSA denies any use of fraudulent engine software, a spokesman said in response to the newspaper report, which sent PSA shares sharply lower. The stock was down 4.4 percent at 17.78 euros as of 1019 GMT. So-called "defeat devices" restrict exhaust output of toxic nitrogen oxides (NOx) under regulatory test conditions while letting emissions far exceed legal limits in real-world driving. In February, PSA became the fourth carmaker to be referred to French prosecutors by the country's DGCCRF watchdog over suspected emissions test-cheating, after Volkswagen, Renault and Fiat Chrysler. PSA's engineering chief acknowledged at the time that emissions treatment in the group's diesels was deliberately reduced at higher temperatures to improve fuel efficiency and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in out-of-town driving, where NOx output is considered less critical. According to Le Monde, an internal PSA document obtained by DGCCRF investigators includes discussion of the need to "make the 'defeat device' aspect less obvious and visible." However PSA insists there is nothing fraudulent or illegal about its engine calibrations. "PSA denies any fraud and firmly reaffirms the pertinence of its technology decisions," the company said on Friday. Reporting by Laurence FrostRelated Video: Image Credit: Getty Government/Legal Green Volkswagen Citroen Peugeot Emissions Diesel Vehicles dieselgate volkswagen diesel