Audi, Volkswagen Excluded from Ward’s Best Engines Awards

Volkswagen and Audi engines have been suspended from participating in Ward’s annual 10 Best Engines competition until further notice, regardless of whether or not they are the engines affected by the “dieselgate” scandal.

VW group engines, especially its diesels, have often been popular at the awards, and under normal circumstances, its 1.8L turbocharged gasoline four-cylinder would be in the running again this year because it was a winner last year, and winners always get re-entered in the following year’s evaluations. For the 2016 awards, Audi would have submitted its 2.0L turbo four-cylinder gas engine in the new A6 and the A3 e-Tron plug-in hybrid for evaluations.

ALSO SEE: Green Car Journal Stripping VW, Audi Diesels of Previous Awards

“Caught red-handed in a diabolical scheme to write software smart enough to scrub diesel emissions only when regulatory tests were being run on 11 million vehicles dating back several years, the Volkswagen Group has stooped to a new low in the quest for emissions compliance, a competitive edge and consumer appeal,” said Tom Murphy, executive editor of WardsAuto World magazine, in a press release. “It seems only fair to exclude VW and Audi from participating in Ward’s 10 Best Engines until we are convinced the culture of deceit has been purged, fines have been paid and regulators are satisfied.

“And at the same time, like many other industry observers and VW owners, I’m feeling bamboozled,” Murphy added.

If you need a refresher on the latest developments from Volkswagen’s dieselgate scandal, click here.

[Source: Wards]

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