Porsche, Audi Added To Diesel Cheating List

It just keeps getting worse for Volkswagen. Accused by the EPA and CARB back in September of installing software in almost a half million 4 cylinder diesel engine cars sold in America that gives false reports on how much pollution those cars were spewing into the atmosphere, the company admitted its wrongdoing and apologized profusely. At the time, it assured regulators and customers that its V-6 diesel engines, installed in certain Porsche and Audi models such as the Cayenne and Q7, did not have the same cheating software.

Wrong, says the EPA. On November 2, it sent Volkswagen a second notice of violation of the Clean Air Act. The new notice claims  VW installed software on VW, Porsche, and Audi V-6 diesel powered vehicles manufactured between 2014 and 2016 that ended up increasing the car’s nitrogen oxide emissions by up to nine times the EPA’s standard.

According to TninkProgress, the”defeat device” software is able to sense when the cars are being put through federal emissions testing. When that happens, the cars are put into a lower emissions mode. According to the EPA, “the vehicle meets emission standards”  in that mode. However, one second after the test is completed, the car switches back into normal mode and emits far more pollutants. This second notice of violation encompasses 10,000 vehicles sold since 2014, and an “unknown volume of 2016 vehicles.”

“Today we are requiring VW Group to address these issues,” Richard Corey, executive officer of the California Air Resources Board, said in a statement. “This is a very serious public health matter. ARB and EPA will continue to conduct a rigorous investigation that includes testing more vehicles until all of the facts are out in the open.”

The US Justice Department has launched a criminal investigation into the matter. Apparently elevated nitrous oxide levels are a bigger threat to society than cheating Wall Street bankers who take down the entire global economic system with their avarice and greed.

“All companies should be playing by the same rules,” Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator at the EPA, said in a statement. “EPA, with our state and federal partners, will continue to investigate these serious matters to secure the benefits of the Clean Air Act, ensure a level playing field for responsible businesses, and to ensure consumers get the environmental performance they expect.”

No one yet knows why Volkswagen elected to program its diesel powered car to cheat. Was it hubris? Stupidity? Something else? Whatever the reason, it has cost the company nearly half of its market value and made it subject to potential fines in the US of up to $37,500 per car.  And that’s before the lawyers get involved with their class action suits on behalf of aggrieved Volkswagen, Porsche and Audi owners. The grandkids will probably be out of high school before this mess is resolved.

2018 Nissan LEAF Will Have 200 Mile Range

Just before the Tokyo Motor Show last week, Nissan did something highly unusual. It invited members of the press to visit is super-secret Advanced Technology Center in Atsugi, a town in the mountains southwest of Tokyo. Up to that point, most people assumed that when the second generation LEAF goes on sale in 2018, it will have double the range of the original. Since 2011, the LEAF has come with a 24 kWh battery good for about 82 miles of all electric driving. Everyone thought the new car would have a 48 kWh battery with about 160 miles of range. But in fact, the new car will have a 60 kWh battery that is said to permit as much as 500 kilometers of range in the rather optimistic Japanese test cycle.

500 kilometers translates into 300 miles, but that number is typically about 1/3 less using EPA standards, so we can expect roughly 200 miles of range in US trim. The new battery not only has more than double the power of the original, it fits in the same space as the battery from 2010. How is that possible?

The credit goes to scientists at the Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory. They started working back in 2011 on a new battery cathode made from an allow of nickel, manganese and cobalt that permits significantly higher energy flow and higher voltages. The new cathode makes it possible to more than double battery power and slash recharging times in half. It’s a closely guarded secret, but Bertil Schmitt of the Daily Kanban says he was told the new battery is the result of a collaboration between Nissan and LG Chem. Sharp eyed readers will remember that LG Chem also supplies the battery for the Chevy Volt and is partnering with Chevrolet on its upcoming Bolt electric car.

While Nissan offered few hints about what the second generation car would look like, it did say the new car would incorporate several features from its IDS Concept car that was featured on its stand in Tokyo. That car makes extensive use of carbon fiber body parts. Nissan showed the journalists a carbon fiber A pillar from the IDS Concept. Is it possible that part will find its way into the next LEAF? The component is much narrower than a conventional steel A pillar, which enhances outward visibility for the driver, but the A pillar is critical to passing all 5 IIHS crash tests. Is a lighter, thinner carbon fiber component able to withstand that kind of punishment?

Nissan also says the next generation LEAF will have an autonomous driving system that is more advanced than the one Tesla uses, because it includes more cameras for a true 360 degree view around the entire automobile. More cameras mean more data. More data means more accurate control of the car. Nissan says the 2018 LEAF will be able to drive itself on the highway and that intown autonomous driving will be available by 2020. That’s 5 years sooner than Klaus Froehlich, BMW’s R&D chief says self-driving in the city will be possible.

The big question is, how much will all this goodness cost? If Nissan can bring the car to market for a price close to the current car, that will be a stunning achievement.

Toyota S-FR Baby Sports Car - VIDEO

Toyota is toying with the idea of a new, smaller sports car that would slot in below its BRZ. Called the S-FR, it is said to be a front engine, rear drive sports car with a 1500 cc engine making about 130 horsepower. That should give it performance on a par with Mazda’s popular sports car, the Miata MX-5.

“I already tell you Toyota’s sports car goal must be three brothers – [BRZ] is the middle [brother], top model is something like a Supra,” Tetsuya Tada, chief engineer of Toyota’s sports car range told the press at the Tokyo motor show this week. According to Drive, Tada went on to say, “When you see the S-FR concept I suppose you imagine it is a 1.5-litre car but nowadays I can choose many kind of engines. Downsized turbo, 1.5-litre naturally aspirated and something additional as well. Now we are thinking which one is the best engine for a small sports car.”

Tada also said that if Toyota builds this car, it will not do so with a partner. The BRZ is shared with corporate cousin Subaru and the next large Toyota sports car is rumored to be a joint project with BMW.

The styling of the S-FR is far from elegant. It looks very much like a Griffith or TVR from the 80’s, neither of which won any design awards. It seems to have none of the visual interest most people associate with the many versions of the Toyota MR2.

The other concern is that the BRZ, despite being a pretty good sports car, is not selling particularly well in any markets around the world, leading some to wonder why Toyota needs yet another slow selling two seat sports car. It remains to be seen whether Toyota can make a business case for the S-FR. It may be that the ship has sailed on small two seaters like the Bug Eye Sprite that captured the hearts of sports car fans in the 50’s and 60’s.