Photo: Audi
After years of promoting “Clean Diesel” as an alternative to going hybrid or pure electric, the Dieselgate fiasco got the best of the Volkswagen Group. Especially in the United States of America, the emission scandal’s consequences are enormous even for the world’s second largest car manufacturer and its brands.
Even though the Volkswagen Group agreed to buy back 2.0-liter TDI-engined cars affected by Dieselgate, the fate of 3.0 V6 TDI owners hadn’t been decided. That’s because the big boys in the picture have yet to agree on a valid solution for this powerplant. As per a report published by Automotive News, the fix might not come in due time for the Volkswagen Group.
Currently in talks with U.S. authorities (i.e. EPA and CARB), the approval of a technical resolution is a bigger headache for the Volkswagen Group than buying the cars back. The report suggests that Audi could buy back approximately 25,000 vehicles equipped with the 3.0 V6 TDI, chiefly because these cars “cannot be fixed.” Beyond Audi, Volkswagen and Porsche models also use this engine, upping the tally to 85,000 vehicles in the U.S. alone.
As a brief refresher, the older generation 3.0 V6 TDI was offered in nameplates such as the Volkswagen Touareg, Audi Q5, Q7, A6, A7, and A8, as well as the Porsche Cayenne. Up to this point, U.S. regulators rejected each and every proposed fix for the engine. The next meeting scheduled between the Volkswagen Group and U.S. regulators is due to take place on November 3, 2016, but chances are the manufacturer’s fix will be rejected once again.
It’s a given that these circumstances translate into a feeling of unease for affected owners, as well as for dealers. Considering that the 3.0 V6 TDI powerplant has been under the investigation of the EPA since November 2015, it’s very likely that this is the Volkswagen Group’s last chance to come with a fix for the said engine. On that note, the EPA states that the problem does not present a safety hazard, the cars remaining legal to drive.
Currently in talks with U.S. authorities (i.e. EPA and CARB), the approval of a technical resolution is a bigger headache for the Volkswagen Group than buying the cars back. The report suggests that Audi could buy back approximately 25,000 vehicles equipped with the 3.0 V6 TDI, chiefly because these cars “cannot be fixed.” Beyond Audi, Volkswagen and Porsche models also use this engine, upping the tally to 85,000 vehicles in the U.S. alone.
As a brief refresher, the older generation 3.0 V6 TDI was offered in nameplates such as the Volkswagen Touareg, Audi Q5, Q7, A6, A7, and A8, as well as the Porsche Cayenne. Up to this point, U.S. regulators rejected each and every proposed fix for the engine. The next meeting scheduled between the Volkswagen Group and U.S. regulators is due to take place on November 3, 2016, but chances are the manufacturer’s fix will be rejected once again.
It’s a given that these circumstances translate into a feeling of unease for affected owners, as well as for dealers. Considering that the 3.0 V6 TDI powerplant has been under the investigation of the EPA since November 2015, it’s very likely that this is the Volkswagen Group’s last chance to come with a fix for the said engine. On that note, the EPA states that the problem does not present a safety hazard, the cars remaining legal to drive.
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