Nein! BMW denies cheating on emissions test as German magazine points finger

By Ronan Glon September 24, 2015

A new report claims that the Volkswagen Group isn’t the only car manufacturer whose vehicles emit more toxic pollutants than they are legally allowed to. German magazine Auto Bild reports the Euro-spec BMW X3 xDrive 20d (pictured) spews out 11.8 times more nitrogen oxide than the legal limit set by the European Union’s Euro 6 regulations.

“All measured data suggests that this is not a Volkswagen-specific issue,” explained the International Council for Clean Transportation (ICCT), the non-profit organization that tested the X3, in a statement, without providing more specific information.

If this analysis proves accurate, the amount of nitrogen oxide measured in the X3’s exhaust fumes would make it dirtier than the U.S.-spec Passat equipped with a 2.0-liter TDI engine. The least compliant Volkswagen model tested so far is the Jetta, which emits 22.6 times more pollutants than it should, closely followed by the Audi A8 TDI, which pollutes 22.2 times more than the legal threshold.

Full details about the diesel-burning X3’s alleged emissions problem will be published tomorrow when the next issue of Auto Bild lands on magazine racks across Germany.

Munich fires back

Top BMW executives responded to Auto Bild by saying that they aren’t familiar with the ICCT’s test but they vehemently deny all allegations of wrongdoing.

“At the BMW group, there are no specific activities or technical provisions which influence the emissions recorded during the test mode,” stresses the company in a statement.

The Munich-based firm points out that its engines’ emissions control systems remain turned on regardless of whether the car is on a test bench or driving on a road. Additionally, executives point out that the ICCT has recently tested 14 of its diesel-powered models and found absolutely no discrepancies with them.

BMW shares fell by nearly ten percent immediately after Auto Bild’s report was published, the biggest drop recorded in four years.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Contributor

Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…

Mobile

The 6 best car phone holders in 2024

Belkin BoostCharge Magnetic Wireless Car Charger with an iPhone 14 Pro.

Belkin BoostCharge Magnetic Wireless Car Charger Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Installing a car phone mount in your vehicle is the best way to make sure that you have easy access to your smartphone when behind the wheel. While you shouldn't be using your phone while driving, having it mounted on your windshield, dashboard, vent, or anywhere else will let you take a quick glance when you're using a navigation app, or to change your playlist when you stop for a traffic light, for example. Instead of having to pick up your device, it will be easier and faster to get these done while it's on a car phone mount for less time of having your eyes off the road.

Cars

Should you buy a used EV? Maybe, but it’s complicated

Electric cars are slowly but surely getting cheaper. Over the past year or so, Ford and Tesla have been discounting their most popular electric cars while other brands, like Rivian, are laying the groundwork for all-new cheaper models.

But you'd still be hard-pressed to call electric cars cheap, and buying a completely new car in the first place is a hurdle in and of itself for many potential buyers. According to Statista, used car sales represented around 74% of all car sales in 2022, and while this figure is likely to change as electric cars get cheaper, the fact remains that most car buyers would prefer to save cash and buy used rather than buy something new.
Buying a new car ain't what it used to be
Buying a car with an electric powertrain doesn't necessarily need to be all that different from buying an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle. But there's a little more to it than that.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs. Ford Mustang Mach-E: Will the R2 be a better buy?

Side of the Rivian R2

The Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it could end up being the go-to EV for drivers who want a decently affordable electric car with a rugged look and feel. But when it finally launches to the public, it won't be the only option in its price range -- the Ford Mustang Mach-E could be one of its main competitors.

The Mustang Mach-E may not be quite as rugged-feeling as the Rivian R2, but it does have a lot going for it -- like an increasingly low price, sleek design, and comfortable interior. Is one of these EVs better than the other? We put the two head-to-head to find out.
Design
The first thing to note about the two cars is their design, as they’re pretty different. The Rivian R2 is built to be a little more rugged and outdoorsy, while the Mach-E instead has a sleeker and sportier look to it. Both cars look stylish and modern.