On: Volkswagen Chief Martin Winterkorn Resigns Amid Emissions Scandal

[TylerE]

Like anything it's a trade off.

Emissions and efficiency are usually conflicting goals. Automakers are under a ton of strain right now to achieve BOTH, which is essentially impossible. The VW TDIs are some of the only vehicles to even get close to the efficiency that will be required in just a few years, regardless of emissions.

[happyscrappy → TylerE]

Except that poor air quality has a severe impact on people.

[TylerE → happyscrappy]

Poor is relative. Even a "bad" car by current standards would have been considered extremely clean even 5 years ago.

[thrownaway2424 → TylerE]

No. The VWs in question would not have even passed 1981 CARB standards.