William Maley

After Volkswagen admitted that it used software to vary the amount of emissions being produced in their diesel vehicles, Volkswagen is using a legal loophole to provide a defense in Europe. In a letter sent last week to European regulators, Volkswagen Group Managing Director Paul Willis said that the company's cheat software might not be illegal under current European Union regulations. Crazy as might sound, there is a loophole that allows this. The New York Times reports that the European regulations have a massive loophole that could put Volkswagen in the clear. In fact, regulators knew about this loophole back in 2011. We'll let the New York Times explain the loophole. "The loophole lets carmakers change the performance settings of their engines before a pollution test. “A manufacturer could specify a special setting that is not normally used for everyday driving,” British regulators warned, according to minutes of a 2011 meeting in Geneva of officials across the region." Willis points this out in his letter, stating the automaker is considering "whether the software in question officially constituted a defeat device." Now this is only a small part of a number of problems with how Europe regulates how vehicles. Automakers can submit to testing in any of the 28 member states of EU and have those results recognized across the EU. Also, automakers can submit pre-production models and do various tweaks such as removing seats and taping up gaps for emission tests. "What we have developed is a phony system of testing where the member states [of the European Union] are in competition with each other for who can make it the most easy for the car manufacturers to pass the test," said Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy, a Dutch member of the European Parliament. Now the EU has the final say as to whether or not Volkswagen's cheating software is actually illegal or not. Lucia Caudet, a spokeswoman for the European Commission tells the Times that the governing body has "no formal view on whether” the software in question counts as "a 'defeat device' in the EU legal sense or not." We'll keep you updated on this. Source: New York Times Wills' letter is below. View full article

While Ford is getting the Focus RS ready for production, rumors are now beginning to fly about an even hotter version to take on the likes of the Mercedes-AMG A45 and Audi RS3. Autocar has learned from some sources that a hardcore version of the Focus is currently under consideration. Now this hardcore version will not getting any more power as the 2.3L EboBoost is currently at its limit and there isn't enough space to add any more cooling. So instead Ford will focus on using lightweight components for this version. Such items up for consideration includes carbon fiber-reinforced bodywork, aluminum suspension bits, carbon fiber brakes, and stripping out the interior. Along with the weight-loss program, Ford will also tackle the drivetrain. There is talk of a limited-slip differential for the front axle and a dual-clutch automatic transmission.' Source: Autocar View full article

Kia revealed a few renderings of the next-generation Cadenza, which is expected to go on sale sometime next year. The renderings reveal Kia making their full-size sedan a bit more aggressive with an angular front grille, a sculpted front bumper, rakish windshield, and a sloping roofline. The interior looks similar to the current model. But there are some changes that include a new steering wheel and a larger touchscreen. No information was provided on what would power the sedan. Source: Kia Press Release is on Page 2 Kia Motors previews next-generation Cadenza The all-new Kia Cadenza will set new benchmarks for cutting-edge design, interior quality and contemporary luxury when it goes on sale in overseas markets in 2016. Previewed for the first time in new images released today, the next-generation Cadenza maintains the progressive, contemporary image of the current model, while introducing higher levels of luxury and refinement to the large sedan segment. The all-new Cadenza offers a bold reinterpretation of the current model's popular design, featuring an elongated bonnet, a wider, lower stance and sharper styling lines, with a thoroughly modern execution of signature Kia design cues ensuring the new Cadenza is instantly recognizable. The cabin of the all-new Cadenza has been designed anew, boasting a fresh, luxurious appearance and layout that offers a sense of width and spaciousness. With a premium new design and higher-quality materials than ever before – two elements inspired by European tastes – the Cadenza's new cabin will set a new standard for luxury and refinement in its class. The all-new Kia Cadenza will go on sale in overseas markets in 2016. View full article

Infiniti is taking on a flagship as its next big project. Automotive News has learned from a source that the luxury automaker has begun work on flagship model featuring a plug-in hybrid powertrain. The source says work has begun at Nissan's r&d center in England and is currently benchmarking the Mercedes-Benz S-Class plug-in hybrid and Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid. The flagship could be a production version of the Q80 Inspiration concept shown at the Paris Motor Show last year. The vehicle boasted a hybrid system with a new twin-turbo 3.0L V6 engine. At the show, Infiniti announced that a model like this would be launched in three to five years. Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required) View full article

AutoGuide recently found patent filing in Japan for a possible hardcore version of the Scion FR-S, Subaru BRZ, and Toyota GT86. The filing features renderings of a coupe with a new front end, large rear wing, and a new set of wheels. This looks similar to the Subaru STI Performance Concept shown at the New York Auto Show earlier this year. Now the filing has Toyota and Fuji Heavy Industries - Subaru's parent company - listed as the creators. Not surprising since both have been working together on this coupe. One of the big questions lingering over this filing aside from when we could actual see this, is how much performance could this coupe have. The STI Performance Concept boasted around 300 horsepower from a turbocharged 2.0L boxer-four. Source: AutoGuide View full article

More bad news for Volkswagen this week. Speaking with German publication Wirtschaftswoche, California Air Resources Board's (CARB) chair Mary Nichols said in their testing, only Volkswagen TDI models were found to have cheating devices. "So far we have found in vehicles of other brands no fraudulent shutdown. This does not mean that all emissions are as we would wish. But there is nothing that comes close to the magnitude of the excess in VW vehicles," Nichols said CARB will continue testing diesel vehicles. Meanwhile, Automotive News reports that Volkswagen has halted production of 2016 Passat TDI models at its Chattanooga, TN plant. No word on production was ended as a spokesman tells AN that he only learned about it today, but it's safe to assume it had to be some after the company withdrew its application for EPA certification on 2016 models equipped with the 2.0 TDI. Automotive News says Volkswagen continued production of the Passat TDI even after the EPA announcement that the 2.0 TDI was found to cheat back in September. Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required), Wirtschaftswoche, Reuters View full article

Jaguar Land Rover is readying a new plan that will see them cut 4.5 billion pounds (about $6.8 billion) in costs by 2020. According to Reuters, the plan dubbed Leap 4.5 will see the British automaker consolidate models to a small number of core platforms, overhauling the supply chain, and slow down/stop recruiting new people to the company. At the current time, there are no plans to layoff people. Why is Jaguar Land Rover putting forth this program? It comes down to the automaker's fastest growing market, China. Sales in the second quarter of this year dropped 32 percent due to a number of economic issues in the country, which has affected the demand for new cars. Source: Reuters View full article

Hyundai's new luxury sub-brand, Genesis has revealed a pair of design sketches for its first model, the G90. This model will be the brand's flagship and replace the Equus sedan. Hyundai describes the G90 as “elegantly designed” and “technology packed.” This will be the first production model to use the Genesis' ‘Athletic Elegance’ design language. The sketches show off a sedan that is low-slung with a long hood, small greenhouse, and a fastback silhouette. The front end boasts a large hexagonal grille found on the current Genesis sedan and a set of headlights that wrap into the front fenders. “Genesis’ new large luxury sedan G90 will deliver a concept of ‘New Luxury’ to our customers. The G90 sits at the pinnacle of the Genesis brand and demonstrates how we apply our human-centered values to give our customer true satisfaction in every aspect of the vehicle ownership experience,” said Woong-Chul Yang, Head of Hyundai Motor R&D Center and Vice Chairman of Hyundai Motor. Hyundai will introduce the G90 in South Korea next month. Source: Hyundai Press Release is on Page 2 ‘New Luxury’ Takes Shape - Hyundai Motor Unveils Rendering of New G90 New large sedan G90 to top Genesis brand’s luxury model range ‘Athletic Elegance’ brings graceful and profound elegance to the new model November 10, 2015 – Hyundai Motor has revealed the first rendering of its new range-topping G90 luxury sedan, which is named EQ900 in Korea. The elegantly designed, technology packed G90 hints at the recently-launched Genesis brand’s design identity and future direction. Woong-Chul Yang, Head of Hyundai Motor R&D Center and Vice Chairman of Hyundai Motor, said, “Genesis’ new large luxury sedan G90 will deliver a concept of ‘New Luxury’ to our customers. The G90 sits at the pinnacle of the Genesis brand and demonstrates how we apply our human-centered values to give our customer true satisfaction in every aspect of the vehicle ownership experience.” As the Genesis brand’s flagship model, G90 is a blueprint for change and innovation that will distinguish the Genesis brand. Majoring on ‘human-centered’ technology combined with engaging driving dynamics, G90 boasts a raft of world-best safety features and technological innovations to set itself apart in the luxury market. G90 also showcases the Genesis brand’s hallmark design style ‘Athletic Elegance’, interpreted by the newly-formed Prestige Design Division to bring graceful and profound elegance to G90’s significant proportions. Crowned by the Genesis emblem, the grand radiator grille combined with sophisticated headlamps communicates the car’s dynamic, future-orientated character. A theme that flows along a body-length character line to the long and agile rear lamp cluster completes the Athletic Elegance of G90. Hyundai Motor created the Genesis brand for a new generation of discerning consumers. Capitalizing on its success in the fast-growing global car market, Hyundai Motor will launch six new Genesis models by 2020. The launch of G90 is scheduled for early next month in Korea. View full article