dennis@home put finger to keyboard:

On 28/09/2015 09:55, Brian-Gaff wrote:
What I could never get a simple answer on though is this. If the
management was used in this so called low emission mode all the time,
just how much performance would you loose?
I am beginning to think that this is probably because no engine ever
made
could pass the emissions standard on real life conditions of driving no
matter what you did. any standard that is not achievable is basically
pointless. What should be done is that a range of emissions under the
different conditions needs to be given and its up to the purchaser what
they decide to buy. and of course its up the regulators to decide on
which list they will support with their tax schemes.

Other cars have passed the same test so maybe they cheated too or maybe
they have better engineers.

There was speculation that VW cheating the tests allowed them to remove
the AdBlue system from their 2-litre range hence reducing unit cost.