2016 Volkswagen Passat revealed in the US
The 2016 Volkswagen Passat has been revealed in the US at a glittering event, completely overshadowed by VW’s ‘DieselGate’ emissions scamming debacle.
So the timing of the glitzy reveal for the 2016 VW Passat in the US yesterday couldn’t have come at a worse time for VW, just days after the revelations and in the midst of acres of caustic coverage. The event went ahead, but, it seems, without anyone from the ‘Mothership’ in Germany on-hand to handle the fallout.
That was left to Michael Horn, VW’s US CEO, who, to be fair, bit the bullet at the start of the presentation of the 2016 Passat by declaring:
Our company was dishonest. We have totally screwed up. We must fix the cars to prevent this from ever happening again and we have to make this right. This kind of behaviour is totally inconsistent with our qualities.
But apologies for actions that were clearly, and blatantly, pre-mediated is likely to cut little ice with government agencies, customers, the public and VW dealers, and the situation does look set to spiral out of control for VW, with their ‘Attack America with Diesel Cars’ strategy left in tatters.
Still, assuming anyone in the US still feels inclined to buy a VW, there is now the option of the 2016 Passat, a car VW has tweaked with new bumpers and lights, an R-Line version, upgraded interior, more technology and a choice of three engines – 1.8 litre TSI, 3.6 litre V6 and 2.0 litre TDI (assuming US regulators allow the TDI to be sold).
More on the VW Emissions scandal:
- Matthias Muller is new VW CEO as it’s revealed 2.8 MILLION German cars affected by Defeat Device Scam
- £100 BILLION bill if VW forced to buy back defeat device cars
- BMW DID NOT use defeat device to scam X3 emissions
- Volkswagen DID use defeat device to scam emissions tests in UK & Europe
- VW suspect emissions revealed 18 MONTHS ago – BMW was ‘Clean’ in the same tests
- VW CEO Martin Winterkorn RESIGNS over emissions scandal
- VW defeat device software in MOST diesel cars – Porsche, Audi, SEAT and Skoda in the frame too
- “We totally screwed up” says VW as it reveals 2016 Passat in the US
- VW’s Martin Winterkorn apologies for emissions “defeat device” scam. Well, he would, wouldn’t he?
- Volkswagen fitted ILLEGAL “defeat device” software to SCAM emissions tests
Peter Abatan says
What that heck was VW thinking? I have been driving either a VW or Audi for the last 20 years, and this news is devastating because it will take their brands down a notch or two. The implications could be huge to the extent that it could impact other brands like Porsche, Lamborghini etc. Why on earth will those at the helm of affairs want to put such a large global company at risk, just to sell a few thousand cars in the US? I am just baffled beyond words.
Cars UK says
It may be that it’s not just VWs in the US, but in many other parts of the world too.