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UCS replaces VW's green title with 'dirtiest tailpipe'

When it comes to tailpipe emissions, Volkswagen may have leapfrogged Ford and General Motors. Just not in the right direction. That's what the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) is saying in the wake of the German automaker's diesel-emissions scandal. After recalculating what it thinks are the real-world diesel-engine tailpipe emissions levels now that we know about VW's "defeat devices," the UCS says the actual diesel emissions would cause the company's total fleet to worsen its environmental impact by about 25 percent. The VW diesels alone, which account for just 0.7 percent of new-vehicle sales, would most likely make up eight percent of total light-duty-vehicle tailpipe emissions, UCS says. Prior to the scandal, the UCS had VW tied with Toyota and Nissan for the third-cleanest fleet, behind Hyundai/Kia and Honda. The recalculated VW has been downgraded to Chrysler territory, which is, in effect, the bottom of the heap when it comes to tailpipe emissions. The UCS adds that the current VW diesels spew out the amount of emissions similar to a typical 2005 vehicle. So much for moving forward. You can read UCS' rather scathing synopsis here. UCS isn't the first entity to bump down Volkswagen's green-car credentials after the discovery that its diesels might be emitting as much as 40 times the nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions during typical driving than official test results said they did, and isn't likely to be the last. In September, Green Car Journal stripped the 2009 VW Jetta TDI and 2010 Audi A3 TDI diesels of their Green Car Of The Year Awards. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) also removed VW diesel vehicles off of its "Green Scores" list last month.

A fix is finally coming for some diesel Volkswagens in America

According to Automotive News, the EPA has approved a fix for select Volkswagen and Audi 2.0-liter diesel vehicles. The fix applies to 2015 VW Beetles, Golfs, Golf SportWagens, Jettas, Passats, and Audi A3s. Unfortunately for a majority of people saddled with cheating VWs, Automotive News reports that only about 70,000 vehicles will get this fix. The remainder of the 475,000 affected cars don't have an approved fix yet. The fix first involves a software update. Later, a particulate filter and additional catalysts will be installed with a further software update. According to Automotive News, the hardware portion will be available next year. Despite the small number of vehicles approved, this may give VW owners some hope that they'll be able to make their cars emissions compliant. Volkswagen also recently got approval for a fix of nine million cars in Europe, and the company may be close to a fix for diesel V6 models. However, for owners of 2.0-liter models uninterested in waiting for a fix, they can still participate in the buyback. Volkswagen would prefer that repurchased cars aren't stripped of parts beforehand, though. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2015 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: Review View 42 Photos News Source: Automotive NewsImage Credit: Seyth Miersma Green Audi Volkswagen Emissions Diesel Vehicles vw diesel scandal

8 new cars that are selling below MSRP

Car shopping has been a frustrating activity for many people in recent years, as strained new car inventories have led to markups and elevated prices across the board. It’s been difficult to find vehicles at anywhere near a reasonable price, and some in-demand models are still listed at a premium today. iSeeCarsÂ’ most recent study looked at several aspects of the new and used vehicle markets and found a handful of models that are selling at a discount – a rarity in todayÂ’s world. Most of the vehicles selling below MSRP in October were electric, though the Nissan Armada and Infiniti QX80 made the top eight. To be clear, weÂ’re not talking about huge discounts here – the Kia EV6 was selling with the largest discount of 3.1%. The other models on the list include: Kia EV6: -3.1 percent off MSRP Ford F-150 hybrid: -2.8% Hyundai Ioniq 6: -2.7% Nissan Armada: -1.8% Hyundai Ioniq 5: -0.9% VW ID.4: -0.6% Kia Niro EV: -0.3% Infiniti QX80: -0.2% Electric and hybrid vehicles like the Kia and Ford have been selling at a premium for a long time, as they experienced stronger than expected demand and had challenging early production runs. That theyÂ’re now selling at a discount could indicate wavering buyer demand, but itÂ’s too early to start sounding any serious alarm bells. Though some models are getting cheaper, the industry average is still heading in the wrong direction. The average MSRP of new cars sold last month was $42,510, while the average sales price was $46,077. That 8.4% overage is surprising to see so many months after the worst of the pandemic has passed. iSeeCarsÂ’ executive analyst Karl Brauer had a few words of encouragement, however, saying, “There are still very few ‘dealsÂ’ in the new car market. Shoppers looking to pay below MSRP for a new car will have to do their research, but a small number of models can be bought below sticker price.” Green Ford Hyundai Infiniti Kia Nissan Volkswagen Car Buying cheap cars