luc said:
Now Volkswagen tried to hire former FBI chief
Louis Freeh to get them back on track in the US:
Berlin (dpa) - Troubled German carmaker Volkswagen claimed on Tuesday that it had made real progress in resolving the exhaust emissions scandal that plunged the company into the biggest crisis in its 78-year history.
[...]
VW has been forced to launch a global damage control operation after US officials confronted the group last year with evidence showing that it had manipulated exhaust emissions tests.
I've been keeping up with the conversation here and this "resolving the exhaust emissions scandal" in my opinion, is just a smokescreen and part of the Carbon Tax/Climate Change scam? The main problem (for the U.S. Government) with the German manufacturing of Volkswagen and other models -
is that they are highly efficient - gas mileage wise and fit a high durability standard and design. Japan's Hyundai, Suzuki and their other product lines, come under the same heading - high standard durability and fuel efficient. A few years back, the U.S. got after them, also, to change their emission controls to American standards. In essence, dumbing down the product to a lower standard in gas mileage - per gallon.
I've been aware of this situation for awhile. I have a '98 Cadillac Seville, that I have owned for 15 out of the 18 years. Just before they instituted a mandatory Emission Control Inspection, to be done with the regular yearly car Inspection, I had received several "recall" notifications from the manufacture, to schedule an appointment with a car dealership for the correction. I later learned, it wasn't to "correct" anything but "add-ons" to control so called emissions. What I did notice, was a change in performance and it was sucking up more gas. Instead of the usual 15 MPG - I was only getting 11 MPG. Considering the length of time I had the car and it's age, I was due for a tune up - points, plugs, etc. so scheduled that. Didn't change the performance or the MPG. When they introduced Ethanol in the gas at the pump, performance went down again. Eventually, there were problems with the "timing" an some electronic components. It's been an expensive investment.
In a conversation with one of my Brother's who spent 20 years in the Navy and worked engineering and electronics, he reasoned, it was the emissions controls placed on the car and the degrading of the gas with Ethanol. He suggested, I check out information on Jay Leno and read some of his articles, for more information. Apparently, he's more than a TV celebrity and has built up a reputation as a top mechanic. Below is an article by Jim Stone, who is generally questionable but the information in the article - closely matches what I have learned and read from Jay Leno. Basically, in line with the information my Brother had suggested.
50 plus MPG cars not allowed in the U.S. or Canada
_http://jimstonefreelance.com/50plus.html
Back dated July 12, 2013 - Americans get guilt tripped by their own government for driving huge gas sucking cars. Americans are called wasteful, and are often shown graphs of how much energy they use compared to the rest of the world. But what if the problem is not the American people, but those who govern them?
The following report is intended to be a wake up call for the American people. There are no tricks here, such as quoting imperial gallons, referencing tiny cars, electric cars, or even hybrids. These cars are straight up 50 plus mile per gallon winners which are banned for sale in the U.S., and if you think you can bring one home, think again,
in America such cars are allowed a 30 day visit upon crossing the border, after which if they are found on American soil they get impounded and if not immediately shipped out of the country thereafter they are destroyed.
The U.S. government quotes as a reason for such behavior that said cars are "not up to American standards". But what about Europe, where they are allowed? European standards are every bit as high as American standards, (BMW vs Ford) but with a simple quote from the government, American people will turn their nose and say if it is not up to American standards we do not want it here.
But under all of this is a damning reality - there is nothing wrong with these cars other than the fact that they are too efficient and will reduce corporate profits as a result.
Lets get started With a combined mileage of
52.8 U.S. mpg and an even higher highway mpg, the Urban Cruiser SUV crossover by
Toyota, which is a European version of the Scion XD features front wheel drive for the ultimate mileage and if you are willing to sacrifice and get the 4 wheel drive version, you will suffer in life with a combined mileage of 48 mpg. Highway mileage is considerably higher which will help make any vacations enjoyable. Al Gore is not happy with this one, so you can forget about it in the U.S.
With a highway mileage of 56 mpg per U.S. gallon, the Nissan Qashqai SUV crossover would be sure to make any carbon tax junkie shiver with dread. Fortunately
the American version delivers only 26 highway mpg (22 combined) so the local carbon tax tyrant can rest easy. I would like to ask HOW ON EARTH the difference could be so huge. True, the ultimate mileage is compliments of a diesel engine but that cannot account for such a severe mileage cut.
The American version has got to be intentionally detuned to deliver horrific comparable mileage. And that is not the end of it, on E85 fuel which is rapidly being forced on the American people, the mileage drops to an amazingly low 18/23which is not only good for the oil companies, it´s damaging to the U.S. economy which would be better off having that money go toward house payments and durable goods.
This much of a difference in efficiency between U.S. and European versions is not happening by accident, it can only be intentional economic sabotage.
With 78.5 imperial miles per gallon highway, the 1.6 blue motion TDI Volkswagen Passat wagon is definitely forbidden in America,
where in the smaller American gallons it would deliver a carbon tax blood curdling 65.4 highway mpg. I never laughed at the 70 mpg carburetor even as a kid. How would that do you on vacation? And even city fuel mileage comes in at over 50 miles per U.S. gallon. Ever see National Lampoons vacation? The car is THAT big. They are flat out banned in America, and if you manage to get one into the states, you will be allowed 30 days to leave with it or it will be impounded and crushed. I looked into this topic, and when it comes to cars like this they really are banned even if purchased elsewhere and really will get taken by the government if you do not get them out of the country on time. Take a look at what an American who rented one of these in Europe had to say when he got home and could not buy one even though they are manufactured in America and shipped out of the country.
And now, the punch line This is the 261 MPG volkswagen I mentioned a few months ago. Yeah, that station wagon delivering 65 U.S. MPG looks pretty good for an American family, but 261 mpg is pretty tempting. Perhaps I'd spring for it, and certainly if I managed to get one into Mexico it would not get crushed. But don't even think about approaching the U.S. border with this one, if 65 MPG from a large station wagon will get your car taken away by the FED, this bad boy would land you in prison.
It ended up getting ridiculed for only achieving a combined mileage of 160 MPG in U.S. gallons (192 combined in Imperial gallons), but come on now, at that point, WHO CARES. Even at 160 MPG combined, which means the highway mpg is well into the 200's, this particular car exposes the fuel mileage lie so harshly that there is absolutely no recovery or hiding from the truth, even Europeans are getting scammed at 65 mpg while Americans are getting more than raped.
And that is not even the best there is. If you take the time to wade through all the censorship, you will eventually discover that there are over 20 full sized cars, including 10 SUV's that get combined mileage figures over 50 U.S. MPG, and that's not counting econoboxes. Even Renault has a 4 door hatch back that gets over 80 combined imperial MPG and pushes well over 100 imperial mpg on the highway. ( Megane expression pictured here.) This equates to 65 US MPG combined, 85 mpg highway, and though it is not a full sized car, it could hardly be called an "econobox".
Americans need to stand up and demand the government to stop censoring search results to prevent Americans from learning the truth elsewhere. Americans need to stand up and call the government on the carpet over the lies that "40 MPG can be achieved in the future"
all the while even American car companies such as Ford are producing 65 plus MPG cars for sale on foreign markets right on American soil.
Jay Leno: Ethanol should go the way of Prohibition
http://www.exxonmobilperspectives.com/2015/03/12/jay-leno-ethanol-should-go-the-way-of-prohibition/
Few people know more about cars than former Tonight Show host Jay Leno. A gearhead with a collection of more than 130 classic vehicles, not to mention an Emmy Award he took home for his show Jay Leno’s Garage, he knows how automotive engines work and what makes them run.
And he knows what they shouldn’t be running on: ethanol.
In his latest column for Autoweek, Leno expounds on the damage that ethanol – in the form of legally mandated E10 – can do to engines of older cars. He writes of damage to fuel lines, fuel-pressure regulators, diaphragms, carburetor jets, and the coating of fuel cells inside gas tanks.
Because ethanol can absorb water from ambient air, it can cause corrosion and inhibit combustion. That damage can lead to breakdowns or, as Leno points out, even fires.
The real culprit is a federal law – the Renewable Fuel Standard – that obligates refiners to lace the nation’s gasoline supply with ethanol. I have written about the problems with the RFS on multiple occasions.
Jay Leno is one of the nation’s preeminent comedians, but as he makes clear, the problems caused by Washington’s misguided ethanol policies are no laughing matter.
Jay Leno's Garage - Popular Mechanics
http://www.popularmechanics.com/jay-lenos-garage/
Who Says Jay Leno Isn't Cutting Edge?
http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324866904578517090180869864
Almost everyone knows Jay Leno, the comedian, host of NBC's "Tonight Show" and avid classic-car and motorcycle collector. Far fewer know Jay Leno, the advanced manufacturer.
Mr. Leno houses his more than 200 cars and motorcycles in a cluster of solar-powered warehouselike buildings outside of Los Angeles that span 110,000 square feet. In one of the structures is an expansive shop equipped with an impressive array of 21st-century machines, including a Stratasys industrial-grade 3-D printer, a NextEngine scanner, a Fadal computer-controlled mill and a (very pricey) KMT Hammerhead water jet cutter that can slice through steel. Along with a battery of more-traditional metal machining equipment, the tools allow Mr. Leno and a small crew of garage workers to fabricate just about any auto part that has been produced in the past 100 years.
US Army’s 7mpg HUMVEE Replacement, More Fuel Efficient
http://www.greenoptimistic.com/us-armys-7mpg-humvee-replacement-more-fuel-efficient-20130313/#.VxzSQrsUWig
Military vehicles are in a class all their own, and the same is true for the US Army’s HUMVEE replacement, which is rated at a whopping seven miles per gallon. Actually, when you think about the Fuel Efficient Ground Vehicle Demonstrator’s [FED] 15,000lb curb weight, 7mpg isn’t all that bad.
You know what else gets that kind of fuel mileage? About 2.2 million tractor-trailers hauling goods across the country. Of course, these trucks only get about 6 mpg and they weigh in at 80,000lbs maximum. On the other hand, the US Army’s HUMVEE replacement, the FED, is packed with thick armor to protect the soldiers riding in it, not to mention weapons, ammunition, and gear.
True, there’s probably more on a soldier’s mind than fuel economy, but don’t forget that the US Military is the number one energy consumer in the country, including fuel. The US Army’s HUMVEE replacement was able to cut weight by, about 5,000lb, using carbon fiber and aluminum, and increase power by dual-charging a Cummins diesel i4. Dual-charging is supercharging and turbocharging on the same engine. The result of these advancements is a 30% improvement in fuel economy. Surprisingly, the FED only comes with a thirty-gallon fuel tank.
