Volkswagen’s $15 billion emission-cheating scandal is affecting more than just the offending brand. In fact, it is throwing a wrench in all new diesel vehicles as more-careful testing is adding time to the certification process, resulting in delays. The latest brand to feel this delay is BMW, according to an Automotive News report.
There is a total of four vehicles affected by this delay, including the 328d, 328d Sports Wagon, X3 xDrive28d, and X5 xDrive35d. Fortunately, we do not have the full range of diesel engines that BMW produces for the European or BMW would be in a world of hurt right now. At this point, BMW is not too sure how far this delay will push back the release of these vehicles, but we expect at least a couple of months.
These in-depth EPA tests are the result of VW building roughly 11 million diesel vehicles with cheating devices that brought cars into conformity with legal emissions levels only when they sensed they were being tested. Once tests were over, the VWs returned to performance- and efficiency-enhancing default settings that exceeded allowable emissions limits by up to 40 times.
While you may not be able to pick up your diesel-fueled 2017 Bimmer in the next few months, the automaker recently cut the lease payments on the 2016 328d. This new 36-month lease deal runs $349 per month after an initial payment of $4,274. For those who prefer to buy, there is also 2.97 percent APR for up to 72 months.
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