Category Archives: fuel economy or emissions

German Motor Transport Grants Fix on Dirty VW Diesels

Such an inexpensive fix is not possible in the U.S. where emissions standards are much tighter, and regulatory authorities – it could be argued across the EU – are not in the pocket of auto companies and major suppliers. Continue reading

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Lawyer Plagued? BMW Sued for “Faulty” i3 Electric Vehicles

The crux of the lawsuit is about the BMW i3 “Range Extender.” This so-called Rex option, uses a two-cylinder, 34 horsepower gasoline engine that switches on when the battery charge drops to 5%, providing another 70 miles of range. BMW claims that the Range Extender “doubles your electric driving range” from the vehicle’s standard 81-mile range. Continue reading

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Nissan Buys 37% of Scandal-Beset Mitsubishi Motors for $2.2B

Nissan Motor will buy 37% of Mitsubishi Motors for $2.2 Billion the companies said today in Yokohama and Tokyo, Japan. This requires a new MMC stock share issue. Call it a “one barrel of a two-barrel shotgun wedding.” Continue reading

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Deadly Diesel – Dr Hatz, Head of R&D at VW, Porsche, Out

At the beginning of the diesel issue in the Volkswagen Group in late September last year, Hatz went on “temporary leave as a precaution,” Porsche said in a statement this morning. Continue reading

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Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Most Fuel-Efficient SUV CR Tested

Toyota RAV4 Hybrid at 31 mpg combined in Consumer Reports testing has the best overall fuel economy of any SUV that doesn’t plug in, CR said today. It returned 26 mpg city and 36 mpg highway – better than most mid-size sedans. Continue reading

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Volkswagen Group Earnings Devastated by Diesel Emissions

Volkswagen Group set a breathtaking loss of -$4.6 billion (-€4.1B) during 2015 because of the ongoing – and soon to get even more expensive – diesel emissions cheating scandal. Continue reading

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German Drivers Want Plug-in Hybrids. Maybe

However, although 96% of drivers surveyed say they are environmentally conscious to some degree, when it comes to cars, the environment gives way to practical considerations. Continue reading

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VW America CEO Michael Horn Out in Dirty Diesel Scandal

Thus the history of sudden death departures at VW in North America continues. When sales previously slumped, Horn became CEO after the abrupt resignation of Jonathan Browning when VW brand sales fell in 2013. The decade before VW said it would triple sales here in 10 years. The lack of trucks and SUVs doomed the plan from the start. Continue reading

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Volkswagen CEO, other Execs Knew of Diesel Scandal Months – if Not Years – Before Public Exposure of the Fraud

The German defense appears weak to AutoInformed (caveat we know little about German law) because former CEO Martin Winterkorn on 27 July 2015 discussed with Volkswagen employees the diesel emissions problem at a regular meeting about “damage and product issues.” Herbert Diess, Volkswagen passenger car CEO, was also present. Memos were sent more than a year earlier. Continue reading

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Real World MPG Gap Continues

Testing data by Emissions Analytics show that although the ‘gap’ between official and real-world figures has remained fairly similar, the average number of miles per gallon has reduced. Continue reading

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Chevrolet Bolt Debuts into a Moribund EV Market

The Bolt EV is said to have more than 200 miles of range on a full charge at a price below $30,000 after Federal tax credits. Continue reading

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VW Diesel Scandal Results in Loss of Global Sales Crown

Given the ongoing ethical, legal and image problems at VW, it’s a good bet the Toyota will once again be the world’s largest automaker when the books close on 2015. Continue reading

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Fuel Economy, CO2 Emissions Unchanged in US during 2014

The average fuel economy for cars remained at 27.9 mpg, during 2014, while trucks increased 0.6 mpg to a new record high of 20.4 mpg. The annual truck increase of 0.6 mpg was the second highest in the last 30 years. Continue reading

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Volkswagen Admits to CO2 Emissions Problem. €2B at Risk

VW said that ~800,000 vehicles from the Volkswagen Group could be affected with “economic risks at approximately two billion euros.” Continue reading

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VW, Audi, Porsche V6 Diesels added to EPA, CARB Probes

The vehicles covered by today’s action are the diesel versions of the 2014 VW Touareg, the 2015 Porsche Cayenne, and the 2016 Audi A6 Quattro, A7 Quattro, A8, A8L, and Q5, among the most profitable vehicles at VW Group. Continue reading

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