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US eco watchdog's shock warning: Fresh engine pollution cheatware tests coming

EPA finally lurches into action as VW sez soz – again

Car makers have been warned by regulators that all light vehicle models in the US will be inspected to make sure no manufacturers are gaming air pollutions tests, Volkswagen-style.

A week ago the The US Environmental Protection Agency revealed that Volkswagen had used engine management software to detect when a motor was undergoing emissions testing, and temporarily change the engine output to pass the examination.

The software cheat, which has somewhat politely been dubbed a "defeat device", increased fuel consumption and cut performance to meet emissions standards for nitrogen oxide, then changed the settings back after testing was complete – meaning the engines produced up to 40 times the permitted levels of the harmful compound when out on the road.

"The EPA may test or require testing on any vehicle at a designated location, using driving cycles and conditions that may reasonably be expected to be encountered in normal operation and use, for the purposes of investigating a potential defeat device," the letter said.

"Such testing can be expected in addition to the standard emissions test cycles when Emissions Data Vehicles (EDV) and Fuel Economy Data Vehicles (FEDV) are tested by EPA."

The announcement that the EPA was going to actually do its job properly could have motor manufacturers worried, since the agency hasn't said exactly what form the testing will take. It's going to be very difficult to know what the knock-on effects are for the ratings given to their cars.

All of which is likely to make Volkswagen even more unpopular in the automotive community, after the German car maker kicked off this current resurgence in the EPA's activities. And it's possible that other manufacturers are going to find their cars aren't performing as specified, either.

But VW has other problems on its mind.

On Friday, the German transport minister announced that 2.8 million Volkswagens tested in Germany were found to have used the defeat device in testing.

That's not the kind of news that will be welcome to the new head of Volkswagen, who was appointed on Thursday. Matthias Müller, who's currently president of Porsche, will take over the top job at Volkswagen after Martin Winterkorn stepped down in the wake of the emissions scandal.

"My most urgent task is to win back trust for the Volkswagen Group – by leaving no stone unturned and with maximum transparency, as well as drawing the right conclusions from the current situation," Müller said.

"Under my leadership, Volkswagen will do everything it can to develop and implement the most stringent compliance and governance standards in our industry.

"If we manage to achieve that, then the Volkswagen Group with its innovative strength, its strong brands, and above all its competent and highly motivated team has the opportunity to emerge from this crisis stronger than before."

Meanwhile, in the UK, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has said Blighty's Vehicle Certification Agency will launch an investigation into emissions testing. This may involve manufacturers having to resubmit cars for inspection. ®

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