Tag Archives: diesel
Volkswagen Fined 1 Billion Euros For “Dieselgate”
Volkswagen has been fined 1 billion Euros ($1.18 billion) by public prosecutors in the German city of Braunschweig, the city close to the company’s Wolfsburg headquarters, over “Dieselgate” or the diesel emissions cheating that saw more than 10.7 million vehicles fitted with “defeat devices.”
The German company said it will pay the fine and would not lodge an appeal against it. The statement added that Volkswagen AG admits “its responsibility” for the diesel crisis “and considers this as a further major step towards the latter being overcome.”
Volkswagen said that the investigation found that “monitoring duties had been breached in the powertrain development department in the context of vehicle tests.” In human language, that means that the diesel cars sold worldwide between 2007 and 2015 have been fitted with the so-called “defeat devices.”
The purpose of these devices is to lower the emissions of cars during testing. However, the devices don’t work when the cars are used during normal driving conditions, meaning that the cars on the road could pump out up to 40 times the allowed amount of pollution.
The 1-billion-Euro penalty is composed of the 5 million Euros that is imposed along with the 995 million Euros for what was described as the “disgorgement of economic benefits,” which simply means the profit earned by Volkswagen for all the mess.
The payment will likely put to end the criminal prosecutions against the German company, but Volkswagen will continue to face the growing number of civil claims from motorists with affected cars, as well as the shareholders of the company. Volkswagen is not alone in what has been dubbed as the “Dieselgate.” Its subsidiaries will also be targeted, as well as luxury carmakers Mercedes-Benz, which already recalled more than 770,000 units, and BMW.
The diesel scandal first broke out in the US, where the company has already paid $25 billion in fines and compensation.
4 Things To Know About The 2018 Hyundai i20
The Hyundai i20 is known for being affordable and practical, thanks to its power efficiency and a number of tech features inside. The South Korean brand has finally revealed a refreshed model for the i20, which last saw an upgrade back in 2014.
The updated line has gas-powered engines and the latest tech safety features available in the market.
1. Exterior
There are a number of body styles that the 2018 Hyundai i20 is offering, which will basically cover as many segments as possible. The body styles include a five-door hatchback, a sportier three-door hatch, and a crossover “Active” body style.
The 2018 model year gives a slightly upgraded design to the i20. There’s a restyled cascading grille design up front, a two-tone roof option, and alloy wheel sizing between 15 and 16 inches. There are more exterior paint colors, too, such as Tomato Red, Champion Blue, and Clean Slate. The other carry-over hues are Passion Red, Sleek Silver, Stardust Grey, Polar White, and Phantom Black.
2. Interior
The layout of the cabin is pretty basic and straightforward. Since this is a practical car, at the most, that should not be a problem to owners. The steering wheel has a thumb-operated multifunction buttons and red contrast stitching. There’s a center-mounted digital driver’s information display, and a push-button start finishes off the look.
Buyers can get an optional panoramic sunroof, but that will cost more. And for the infotainment section, the Hyundai i20 will have features that include navigation, media support, and connectivity services. Cargo room, on the other hand, is rated to have 11.5 cubic feet.
3. Performance
There will be no more diesel option for the 2018 Hyundai i20. The carmaker, instead, opted for a variety of gas-powered engine configurations—a turbocharged Kappa 1.0-liter three-cylinder T-GDI and a naturally-aspirated Kappa 1.2-liter engine.
4. Prices
The 2018 Hyundai i20 will arrive in dealerships in June and sold in the European market. Hyundai did not provide exact pricing for the cars, but expect it to be around $16,513.
BMW Diesel Vehicles for Model Year 2017 Confirmed
BMW announced that its diesel vehicles with the 2017 model year will be rolled out soon in the United States of America. The luxury car maker confirmed the arrival of four diesel models in the region.
According to CarAndDriver, the variants that will get diesel versions for the 2017 model year are the sedan and Sports Wagon versions of the 328d, the X3 xDrive28d, and the X5 xDrive35d.
Despite the positive news, BMW haven’t released any definite date yet regarding the arrival of the mentioned diesel units. A spokesman of the company just told the source that it will be available later this year.
The report claimed that many BMW dealerships are now missing the diesel versions of some popular models. The source explained that the delay had something to do with the certification process, which is a requirement for diesel models sold in the U.S.
The article stated that EPA increased its scrutiny in the diesel models after the Volkswagen emission scandal that rocked the automotive world and led to the company CEO’s resignation. It should be noted that VW admitted to using a software to cheat their emission figures.
The postponement of the arrival of the BMW diesel models in the country is also due to BMW’s suspension of their production in the U.S. soil. We agree with the source that it is a smart move from the luxury automaker in case EPA will ask them to revise something in their diesel models.
As for the other popular models of the brand, BMW is yet to confirm if it will offer a diesel version of the redesigned 5-Series in the U.S. Currently, the vehicle is available in its 2016 model year with the name 535d. For the 7-Series, the company said it will not be selling a diesel variant of it in the area.