Martin Winterkorn, former Volkswagen Group CEO, was last week charged for offences related to the company's Dieselgate saga. Prosecutors claim Winterkorn didn't inform customers about the company's emissions cheating software and failed to stop the company from using such software at the earliest possible instance...
According to an investigation by the EU's anti-trust regulator, BMW, Daimler and Volkswagen worked together between 2006 and 2014 to stymie competition in developing emissions cleaning technology. The so-called "circle of five", which included engineers from Audi and Porsche, are said to have "coordinated their AdBlue dosing strategies, AdBlue tank size and refill ranges...
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have filed a civil complaint against Volkswagen and Martin Winterkorn, its former CEO, for their role in issuing bonds while the company was trying to conceal the fact it had been selling vehicles with diesel emissions many times above legal levels. According to the SEC: "From April 2014 to May 2015, Volkswagen issued more than US$13 billion ($18...
Seat, Spanish subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group, has unveiled an exclusive version of its small sports wagon, named the Leon Cupra R ST. Limited to 150 units in the UK, the Leon Cupra R ST is essentially a twin-under-the-skin to the Volkswagen Golf R wagon, powered by a 220kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine hooked up to a seven-speed DSG automatic and 4Drive all-wheel drive...
Volkswagen Group's leadership has announced a ramping up of its already ambitious electric vehicle plans at its 2019 annual press conference. The German automaker now plans to launch 70 new electric cars by 2028, up from the 50 it had previously committed to. It now predicts it will make 22 million electric vehicles in the next decade, up from the previous forecast of 15 million...
The Seat el-Born concept has been revealed ahead of its full debut at the 2019 Geneva motor show, which takes place next week, and looks almost ready for production. Equipped with a 62kWh battery pack, the el-Born has an estimated driving range of 420 kilometres based on the WLTP cycle. Using a compatible 100kW DC fast charger, the el-Born's battery can be topped up to 80 per cent within 47 minutes...
Euro NCAP has released the latest round of safety ratings this week, with the new Honda CR-V, Mercedes-Benz G-Class and Seat Tarraco all scoring top marks. All three vehicles were tested against the firm's latest 2019 criteria, each achieving at least 90 per cent for adult occupant protection and 80 per cent for child occupants...
The Seat Minimo has made its debut at the 2019 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, and will eventually enter same the market niche as the Renault Twizy. Justifying the car's launch alongside the latest round of smartphones, the Minimo is fitted with a Digital Access key, 5G mobile connectivity, and wireless Android Auto support. The Minimo is just 2...
The Cupra Formentor concept will be given its in-the-flesh debut at the 2019 Geneva motor show, which kicks off at the beginning of March. Although the car that will go on stage in Geneva is billed as a concept, it looks production ready — check out the interior and its proper wing mirrors! — and is likely based on the Seat Ateca crossover...
Seat has teased a new Cupra concept car, which will be unveiled on February 22, European time. The debut of the new concept is timed to coincide with the brand's first anniversary as a standalone marque. Few details have been confirmed about the new car, although the company says it "mixes the benefits of a performance car and an SUV"...
While new smartphones will make most of the headlines at Mobile World Congress 2019, Seat will be using the gathering to unveil a new "mobility platform" concept car. Details about the car are thin on the ground right now, with the company stating the concept will make a "difference in Seat's urban micromobility strategy"...
Mercedes-Benz has recalled the 2018 B-Class and CLA over concerns about an issue with the automatic occupant detection system in the front passenger seat. If a child seat is installed facing backwards in the passenger seat, it's possible the airbag might not automatically turn off...
A US federal grand jury last week indicted four senior managers — Richard Bauder, Axel Eiser, Stefan Knirsch and Carsten Nagel — for their role in developing and covering up the emissions testing defeat device fitted to the Audi-designed 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 engine. All four held senior management positions at Audi's diesel design centres in Neckarsulm and Ingolstadt, Germany...
At Volkswagen Group, the next generation of flexible component sets will be the last engineered for internal combustion engines. According to Automotive News, Michael Jost, head of strategy for the Volkswagen brand, told an industry conference in Germany “our colleagues are working on the last platform for vehicles that aren’t CO2 neutral"...
Cupra, the newly spun-off performance division of Spanish manufacturer Seat, is planning an extensive model rollout in the coming years – according to a new report. Spanish publication Periodismodel Motor claims the go-fast sub-brand intends to launch an additional seven models before 2021, joining the current Cupra Ateca SUV...
The Seat Tarraco has been revealed, standing tall above the Ateca and Arona as the Spanish brand's first entry into the large SUV segment. Essentially Seat's take on the Skoda Kodiaq and Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace, the Tarraco is based on the Volkswagen Group's ubiquitous MQB architecture, and also debuts the brand's new design language...
The Seat Arona looks set to be the next model in the Spanish brand's line-up to be fettled by its new Cupra performance sub-brand – according to a new report. Spain's Motor.es claims the hotted-up crossover is scheduled for release in 2020 as a 2021 model, around the same time the Arona will go through a mid-life refresh...
Herbert Diess, CEO of the Volkswagen Group, says the Seat brand will be positioned as the group's sporty mainstream brand. As part of a move by Diess to reduce internal competition between the Volkswagen Group's non-luxury brands, Seat will be a sporty complement to the value-focused Skoda marque...
Seat has debuted its new 'Digital Cockpit' on the Arona crossover and Ibiza hatchback this week. Measuring 10.25 inches, the optional Seat Digital Cockpit "not only has a more modern and versatile design, but provides greater functionality, allowing drivers to view everything from classic information found on analogue dials, such as speedometer and tachometer, to full-colour maps and navigation"...
Seat has revealed the Leon ST Cupra Carbon Edition for the UK, sporting unique enhancements over the 'standard' hot wagon on which it's based. Limited to just 50 units in Britain, the Carbon Edition draws upon the 300PS (221kW) all-wheel drive Leon ST Cupra wagon – itself based on the hi-po Volkswagen Golf R – and adds niceties like carbon-fibre finishes for the side blades along with the front and rear bumpers...
