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 Piƫch) 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: 4, Informative) by M. Baranczak on Friday November 06 2015, @04:37AM
(Score: 2) by shortscreen on Friday November 06 2015, @05:15AM
GP didn't say that the standards are impossible to meet, but that cars don't meet the standard during heavy acceleration which is true. They aren't required to meet the emissions targets at WOT and aren't tested for it. Since most people aren't driving with the pedal on the floor all the time it isn't seen as a problem. But one may choose to call it a legal loophole.