US officials claim VW cheating emissions with larger vehicles

American officials have levelled new claims against Volkswagen in the ongoing diesel saga, this time alleging that the German automaker installed cheat devices in vehicles with larger diesel engines.

After revelations last month that Volkswagen had used a device in 2.0-litre diesel engines during official emissions testing that turned on the vehicles’ full emissions control systems, the U.S. EPA is now alleging the German automaker installed similar devices in vehicles powered by its 3.0-litre V6 diesel engines.

The EPA claims diesel-powered versions of the 2014 Volkswagen Touareg and 2015 Porsche Cayenne, as well as 2016 Audi Q5, A6, A7, A8, and A8L models, are affected by the new allegations.

"(Volkswagen) manufactured and installed software in the electronic control module of each vehicle that causes the vehicle to perform differently when the vehicle is being tested for compliance with EPA emissions standards than in normal operation and use," reads the EPA's notice of violation dated Nov. 2, 2015.

Volkswagen has denied any wrongdoing with regards to the larger engines.

Volkswagen has recalled 8.5 million vehicles in Europe alone in response to the 2.0-litre diesel scandal.