More VW cars involved in diesel scandal

Volkswagen cars with bigger diesel engines also contained software designed to dupe emissions testing, according to the US Environmental Protection Authority.

The scandal has widened to include luxury brand Porsche and Audi, the EPA said VW also used devices to cheat air-pollution tests in 3.0 litre V6 diesel engines used mostly in larger, more expensive models.

However, VW denies the vehicles have software designed to cheat tests, the firm said that cars with the 3.0 litre diesel V6 engines ‘had a software function which had not been adequately described in the application process’.

Volkswagen said it was cooperating with the EPA to ‘clarify the matter’.

‘Volkswagen AG wishes to emphasize that no software has been installed in the 3 litre V6 diesel power units to alter emissions characteristics in a forbidden manner,” the company said in a statement.’

Meanwhile, Porsche said it was ‘surprised’ by the EPA’s allegations.

The EPA identified the following diesel models as containing ‘diesel duping’ software aimed at cheating emissions tests; 2014 VW Touareg, 2015 Porsche Cayenne and 2016 Audi A6 Quattro; A7 Quattro, A8, A8L and Q5.

Shares in Volkswagen dropped another five per cent yesterday after news of other cars being involved broke. The EPA said its investigation is still ongoing.