Porsche Investigating Possible Manipulation of Emissions-Test Data

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Germany has also announced that it is looking into software and hardware irregularities for emissions tests of older-generation Porsche engines.

• Porsche announced over the weekend that it has launched an internal investigation into whether software and hardware were manipulated to improve emissions-testing results on previous-generation engines.
• Germany's federal automotive agency, KBA, has also announced that it is investigating whether Porsche manipulated emissions results.
• The investigation involves engines developed between 2008 and 2013 and not current ones, according to the German newspaper Bild, which originally reported the news.

Over the weekend, Porsche announced that it has launched an internal investigation into the possible manipulation of its engines to improve emissions test data, German newspaper Bild am Sonntag reported. The paper said that Porsche has contacted both German and U.S. authorities about the investigation. As of this morning, Germany’s federal automotive agency, KBA, announced that it will also be investigating Porsche over the issue.

A Porsche spokesperson said in a statement that there is "no evidence" that any models currently in production are affected, and that those under scrutiny were developed years ago. Bild reported that engines developed between 2008 and 2013, including those in the Panamera and 911, were the focus of the investigation but did not cite the source of that information.

The Porsche spokesperson added: "These topics mainly relate to specific hardware and software used in certification testing. In certain cases such components may also have differed from parts used in series vehicles." It's not clear at this point, based on currently available information, whether this means a problem like the VW emissions-test cheating scandal or some other issue.

Porsche was fined last year over cheating on diesel emissions tests, but this is the first time that gasoline-powered engines are being investigated. "Porsche is routinely and continuously reviewing technical and regulatory aspects of its vehicles. The company also conducts reviews of potential issues," the statement from Porsche read. "In such reviews, Porsche has identified topics that it has now—as in other instances—proactively brought to the attention of the regulators." C/D will update the story as more information becomes available.

SOURCE: CAR AND DRIVER