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An Anonymous Coward offers the following:
Volkswagen has admitted that more models gamed the emissions test, nearly doubling the number of cars affected. This now includes some Audi and Porsche models and other VW brands. From http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-volkswagen-problems-expand-20151105-story.html
The latest developments followed Volkswagen's admission Tuesday that it had understated the carbon dioxide emissions for 800,000 cars, widening the scope of the scandal.
Bob Lutz comments on a very toxic management culture at VW and offers his explanation for where things went sideways, http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a27197/bob-lutz-vw-diesel-fiasco/, suggesting that the management ruled by fear and threats.
And, a quote from a conversation with the dictator (former VW boss Ferdinand Piëch) about tight (high quality) body panel fits on a VW, Lutz remembers:
...
"Yeah. I wish we could get close to that at Chrysler.""I'll give you the recipe. I called all the body engineers, stamping people, manufacturing, and executives into my conference room. And I said, 'I am tired of all these lousy body fits. You have six weeks to achieve world-class body fits. I have all your names. If we do not have good body fits in six weeks, I will replace all of you. Thank you for your time today.' "
This must really be serious now, none of the articles I saw used "xyz-gate" -- instead calling it a scandal or similar.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 06 2015, @03:09AM
More likely that VW had a small sequestered group specifically to do this stuff and they just checked the code into the version control system. All audit requirements were signed off by someone senior so scrutiny was avoided and that small group were paid to keep their mouths shut.
> There are hints in the press that the people that discovered the discrepancy were tipped off
Like what hints? The entire story of how the NOX cheating was discovered is well known. No tip offs - just a guy looking to prove that because VW is able to pass EPA tests any manufacturer ought to be able to pass the more lax EU standards. He wasn't looking to take VW down, he was looking to use them as a shining example of good engineering.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 06 2015, @06:39AM
> There are hints in the press that the people that discovered the discrepancy were tipped off
A source, which could not be independently verified, confirmed some random 'fact' that happens to suit someone and not suit someone else, etc etc etc. This is 80% of what passes for news and they get away with it because so few people think critically.
VW makes excellent cars, some of the world's best. They may not pass government emission standards, but they are pretty damn efficient, reliable and well designed. Zero emission cars are on the way but if you are in the market for a car today, you won't find a cost effective one yet - so VW is a good choice. Let the governments get all upset by it, but I for one am pretty happy with the bargains to be had because of this overblown issue.
(Score: 2) by FakeBeldin on Friday November 06 2015, @10:36AM
"Zero emission"? Ha!
A recent environmental study from German and Norwegian institutes focused on how much car *tyres* pollute. In a nutshell: car tyres are one of the largest contributors of microplastics to the environment.
Heck, I'll submit it as a story right now. For those curious: http://www.environment.no/Topics/Waste/Microplastics/#C [environment.no]