The Volkswagen Group dieselgate scandal has affected an estimated 11 million cars worldwide, produced between model years 2009 and 2015. In order to fix the affected cars in Europe, the company has now released a comprehensive strategy on how it plans to correct the errors.
The Group has presented specific technical measures regarding the EA 189 engines with a displacement of 1.6 and 2.0 litres to the Federal Motor Transport Authority, which have been ratified by the latter after extensive examination.
Regarding the 1.6-liter EA 189 engines, Volkswagen will fit a “flow transformer” in front of the air mass sensor. It will help calm the swirled air flow in front of the air mass sensor and therefore, decisively improve the measuring accuracy of the air mass sensor. The air mass sensor helps determine the current air mass throughput, which is pivotal for the engine management for an optimum combustion process. Furthermore, a software update will also be carried out and the total process will take less than one hour. Meanwhile, the 2.0-liter engine get a software update.
“Thanks to advances in engine development and improved simulation of currents inside complex air intake systems, in combination with software optimization geared towards this, it has been possible to produce a relatively simple and customer-friendly measure,” Volkswagen said in a press release.
The aim of these measures is to ensure the cars fulfill the emission targets without taking a hit at the performance or fuel consumption. The first recalls to carry out the changes will take place from January 2016 and it will take the entire calendar year to fix all the vehicles.
After implementing these measures, the company will provide the technical solution for the 1.2-litre diesel engines that are expected include a software update while the Group’s other brands – Audi, Seat, Skoda and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles – will follow a similar approach to fix the impacted vehicles.
