Porsche Accused of Gaming Cayman R Emissions Test in UK

Porsche has been accused of altering the emissions testing procedure for the Cayman R in the United Kingdom to make it appear as though the vehicle emitted less C02 than it actually did.

The German automaker allegedly started the Cayman R in second gear during emissions tests for the sports car, which resulted in fewer tailpipe emissions than if it started the tests in first gear. According to The Times, the vehicle’s emissions test result was rated at 221g of C02 per km in the UK, but in the rest of Europe, it was rated at 228g of c02 per km. And because the UK taxes vehicles based on fuel efficiency, this allowed the Cayman R to sit in a lower tax bracket and save owners some money.

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This discrepancy was apparently discovered by a Cayman R owner’s legal representation. The owner sued Porsche in 2011 over a an apparent defect with his Cayman R, however the company settled with the owner shortly after. Now, though, the customer’s legal team has approached Porsche seeking answers in regards to the different emissions test numbers.

Porsche has so far said the discrepancy in the Cayman R’s emissions testing was “confirmed as being in line with the appropriate type-approval legislation.” The automaker declined to elaborate on the matter when approached for comment, however, telling The Times it can’t due to ongoing legal proceedings.

While not an international scandal like VW’s Dieselgate, this case serves as another example of the lengths automakers may go through to make their vehicles appear more earth-friendly than they actually are, or to get their vehicles in a lower tax bracket.

[Source: The Times]

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