I agree entirely and you could of course ask where are the media stories on such things.

But I guess it's still one step, albeit a small one, away from flat out lying about what's in your product.

Just had notification that one of our vehicles (a Skoda Yeti)is affected. They are working how to rectify things as a priority! Can't see the point in rectification - if they lied about emissions then the emissions are what they are. Any fix will no doubt reduce power / performance so hopefully they won't get round to fixing it before next summer when we are due to hand it back (3 year lease).

My dads Skoda Superb is affected too.
As far as I know the "fix" shouldn't affect performance just what information is given out by the car.
From the albeit limited information I've seen I think the issue is that the software could detect when the car was being tested and alter the info given to the tester equipment.

I could be very wrong on that as my knowledge of cars extends only as far as changing a wheel and topping up the oil and screenwash.

VW officials have already said there will likely be a performance hit.

Correct. They can't get the engine performance required and pass the emissions regulations. I heard from a European colleague that in some cases they will have to change the entire engine and that they have estimated 50 billion euros as the cost to the company overall.

I am going to be very surprised if VW are the only diesel manufacturer who have done this,

Sorry but I reckon your friend is talking out of his 'arris.

I seriously doubt that any vehicle would need re-powering. A re-map of the ECU should be sufficient for every vehicle that may be affected

I feel kinda smug with my part veggie oil run B5.5 Passat estate now, I was going to trade up to a B7 140PS bluemotion but had read lots regarding all sorts of issues including poor mpg. Mine gets through the emissions test on first pass every year, is quieter than most of the newer diesels, less smokey in general & still gets within 10% of the official figures regularly, once exceeding it on a long run back along the French autoroute.
I've averaged 5k/year for the last 10 and now do less than 4,000, almost half of that is travelling up to Hull to watch matches/visiting the folks so replacing is a consideration more out of boredom of the car than a necessity.
It's a shame we are still probably a hundred years away from nuclear fusion technology

That's roughly in line with the figure quoted by the head of VW (America) when grilled by Congress. I mean, when senior corporate officials start talking about "a modest drop in performance" it's usually best to think of a number and multiply by ten.

Sufficient for what, though? Yes it could be remapped to make the car emit the same lower level of emissions in real life driving as in the static tests - but then it will pull like a pig tied to a shed.

Do you think that VW's sales will be affected much? I understand that many people will have bought a diesel VW, swayed by the engine stats, better mpg, lower road tax, but do the majority of the car buying public really care much about carbon emissions? If they did they would stick to their old car. The environmental impact of building a new car must be greater than the exhaust fumes coming from the car you already own. Think about the mining/manufacture of the metals, all the plastic that goes into it, parts and materials shipped from the other side of the globe.

Yes but most people are thick sheep. They buy into the cynical use of the term "green" by all sorts of businesses. Businesses that promote their green credentials are generally unethical in my opinion.

I see VW sales are reported as down for the last month. Mind Vauxhall sales are down even more. What will interest me is how have sales of Diesel cars gone.
I feel people are starting to rethink the type of vehicle they want to buy.
These Diesel Particulate Filters fitted to the modern diesel, are nothing but a nuisance, Why people who only potter around are sold Diesels amazes me. It is just greed on the part of salesmen, keen to sell whatever.
It is interesting to read that Ford are bringing out Petrol vans in the near future, a sensible move.
The days of the diesel are numbered. They say that Diesel powered vehicles will have to pay a higher London Congestion Charge in the near future and some London Boroughs will make Diesels owners pay a Surcharge on parking fees.
It is said that Londons Oxford St is one of the most polluted roads in the world, due to poor air flow and its almost exclusive use by slow moving Diesel vehicles. Taxis and Buses.
Another interesting point is Frances changing attitude to Diesel vehicles. Renault and Peugeot/Citroen, encouraged in the Sixties by the French government developed very successful small Diesel engines. Over time these caught on, due to fuel economy, DERV was cheaper too and later its claimed environmental benefits. Now after tests where Paris banned cars for several weekends, A ban on diesel cars in Paris is a real possibility.

Cities are starting to ban personal motorvehicles from coming into central parts, Bogota bans all vehicles for 7 hours every single Sunday and national holidays, car free days are springing up everywhere. Oslo is planning to be completely car free, Vaxjo in Sweden wants to be free of fossil fuels by 2030, many towns in Switzerland already have complete bans on motorvehicles.
The UK is so far behind with integrated transport solutions and encouraging cycling/walking never mind better public transport, people are too tied to their cars/fossil fuels and won't change, 30,000 (official though closer to 60k) deaths in the UK due to pollution won't be dropping anytime soon that's for sure
All the while people are getting fatter and putting massive pressure on the NHS/taxpayer.
Something has to change but it won't under the current government nor Labour either.