The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today ordered Volkswagen of America to address engine control programming installed in half a million vehicles due to its ability to disable certain emissions control functions during normal use.

The enforced recall affects four-cylinder TDI models sold in the United States from model years 2009 through 2015, to include the VW Golf, Jetta, Beetle and Passat and the Audi A3.

This programming can allegedly determine whether the vehicle is being operated normally (in the “real world”) or being put through an emissions testing protocol and alter the engine’s operating parameters accordingly, running more cleanly when an emissions test is detected.

“Specifically, VW manufactured and installed software in the electronic control module (ECM) of these vehicles that sensed when the vehicle was being tested for compliance with EPA emission standards. For ease of reference, the EPA is calling this the ‘switch,’” said EPA officials in a letter sent to Volkswagen executives Friday.

The EPA says it and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) were alerted to the discrepancies in test data and real-world data by study results released by West Virginia University’s Center for Alternative Fuels, Engines & Emissions in May, 2014.

When initially confronted by these results, Volkswagen insisted the increased emissions in real-world testing were simply the result of environmental conditions and “various technical issues,” but agreed to a voluntary recall to address existing models.

CARB then conducted its own testing in collaboration with the EPA and determined that the reprogrammed vehicles still did not perform as testing indicated they should.

Following this, the agencies again confronted Volkswagen, who only then admitted that emissions control defeat programming had been written into the control modules of the engines in question.

The inclusion of any feature that is considered an emissions control “defeat device” is a violation of federal regulations unless the manufacturer can explain and justify its inclusion, whether as a safety feature or a measure to prevent damage to the vehicle in normal operation. Such features must also be fully disclosed.

Failure to meet these requirements can result in stiff penalties. None were announced Friday, but they are expected to be forthcoming.

General Motors has quietly introduced another minor Chevrolet SS update, arriving for the 2016 model year.

The sports sedan has received a revised front fascia, with vertical air ducts near the edges to direct airflow around the front wheels and improve aerodynamic efficiency. New LED signature lighting has been added, along with functional hood vents. A fresh set of 19-inch alloy wheels have also been created to complete the look.

The 6.2-liter V8 engine remains unchanged with 415 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque, however it will sound different thanks to an upgraded exhaust. The new dual-mode system is said to bring a quieter tone at low rpm and a more muscular growl at wide-open throttle.

“The 2016 SS design changes more fully express the true driving character of the sedan while further enhancing the car’s overall performance,” said Chevy performance car marketing boss Todd Christensen.

The SS just last year received another round of upgrades, adding GM’s Magnetic Ride Control active dampers and an optional six-speed manual transmission.

The company has not yet announced if the 2016 revisions come with any price changes. The 2015 model currently fetches $45,745 for the base trim (excluding freight and gas-guzzler tax).

Toyota has cast doubt on production plans for the new sports car it is currently co-developing with BMW.

The companies have been collaborating on a new platform that could underpin new models from both brands, however Toyota now cautions that it has made no final decision on whether to move forward with the project beyond a design study.

“The whole study before that, on what kind of platform, on what kind of architecture, that’s been progressing quite well,” a spokesperson told Reuters. “We haven’t yet decided to give the green light to the project, but it’s coming up.”

A broad range of rumors have focused on what each company might build upon the jointly-developed platform. BMW is widely believed to be working on a next-generation Z4, which could borrow design cues from the 3.0 CSL Hommage R concept. Toyota, meanwhile, could stretch the wheelbase for a revived Supra, or offer an entirely new model to slot above the GT86 ( Scion FR-S) and take styling inspiration from the FT-1 concepts (pictured) that appeared last year.

The platform is rumored to be powered by a turbocharged six-cylinder engine with a hybrid all-wheel-drive system, delivering a combined output of over 400 horsepower. Such a proposition likely won’t come cheap, and unconfirmed reports suggest the production cars would likely cost at least $60,000 and potentially approach the six-figure threshold.

Both companies may be discouraged from investing too much on the roadster and small sports car segments, both of which have continued to slowly contract in recent years. Sales of the current Z4 are down by more than nine percent for the year, while FR-S deliveries have declined by approximately 24 percent during the same period.

The Japanese and German automakers still plan to partner on several different technologies, including composite materials and hydrogen fuel cells, even if the sports-car plans fall through.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is reportedly preparing to send some car production from the US to Mexico.

The shift is said to be part of a quid-pro-quo agreement with United Auto Workers leaders, according to an Automotive News report. Both parties recently concluded negotiations for the UAW’s next contract, which primarily focuses on wages and healthcare but can also include production provisions.

Union officials are said to have agreed to allow Chrysler 200 and Dodge Dart production to move from Michigan and Illinois, respectively, to a factory in Toluca, Mexico. In return, FCA allegedly agreed to focus future SUV, crossover and pickup production in the US.

A domestic production shakeup is expected to include a retooling of the Toledo Assembly plant to handle a Wrangler-based pickup, while Michigan’s Warren Truck plant will be converted to unibody construction to build the Jeep Grand Wagoneer.

Sales of the Chrysler 200 and Dodge Dart have been growing this year, with respective deliveries up by 112 percent and 13 percent through August, however the combined number for both cars represents less than 10 percent of FCA’s collective sales in the US market. Individually, the Wrangler and Grand Cherokee outsell the combined numbers for both car models.

In a previous interview with Automotive News, FCA chief Sergio Marchionne suggested automakers began moving pickup production out of the US after feeling “threatened” by the UAW, however he conceded that the vast majority of trucks are sold in the US market.

“If you move the truck back here … we could actually make sense of this bloody industry and actually increase the number of people employed in this country and really share wealth because we are making money,” he said.

The union contract still must be ratified by the nearly 40,000 UAW members at FCA factories before the terms are finalized.

The single-vehicle replacement for Jeep’s current Compass/Patriot twins has been spotted undergoing shakedown testing with it’s production-spec body work.

Set to round out Jeep’s small utility portfolio, the Compass/Patriot replacement will slot between the Renegade and the larger Cherokee. It remains unknown if the new model will carry on with the Compass or Patriot badge, or if Jeep will select a new nameplate altogether.

What ever it’s called, the new SUV will ride on a stretched version of architecture that underpins the Renegade. Like the Renegade the new model will use a nine-speed automatic transmission, with a six-speed manual option still a possibility. The volume engine for the new SUV will likely be a turbocharged and direct-injected 2.0L four-cylinder.

On the styling front it’s clear than the new small SUV will adopt cues from Grand Cherokee. Exposed headlights reveal units similar in style to that of the Grand Cherokee rather than the rounded units used on the Renegade. The front grille treatment on this prototype is decidedly conventional, meaning we can rule out a mug inspired by the somewhat radical Cherokee.

Jeep’s Compass/Patriot replacement is expected to go on sale during the second half of next year as a 2017 model, meaning we could see it debut in production for as early as the 2016 Detroit auto show.

The Continuation of a Legend
The 2016 Ford Explorer Platinum is the latest in 25 years of SUV legacy to come from the Blue Oval. Featuring virtually every option available, it will, according to Ford, satisfy the wants and needs of those buyers who want just a little (or a lot) more in their Explorer.

As one of the originators of a segment, the Ford Explorer had to be innovative then, and continue onward with innovations today, lest it be consigned to the used car lot of once great ideas. The brand must be doing something right, because during the past 25 years, according to Ford, they have averaged one Explorer sale every two minutes. By the numbers, that’s more than 7-million vehicles during that timeframe.

The Platinum is Ford’s all-in version of the Explorer, in this case offering their powerful Ecoboost V6 engine, and Intelligent four-wheel-drive with Terrain Management System. Turns out, it’s the perfect vehicle for the Ford Explorer Platinum road trip adventure, which is why the company flew us to Big Sky, Montana, to drive it through the Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Talk about an iconic drive, it is one that took drivers on a route through nine cities starting in Western Canada and 25 days later ending in New Mexico.

New package, new power
The new Ford Explorer Platinum edition is complete with a version of the Blue Oval’s 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 engine that makes 365 horsepower at 5,500-rpm, and 350 lb-ft of torque. It is mated to a six-speed SelectShift automatic transmission, with steering wheel-mounted paddle shift levers for those with sporting intentions.

All Platinum models are outfitted with intelligent 4WD and the Terrain Management system, which is similar to that found in former Ford family member Land Rover’s portfolio. Through this kit, the four-wheel-drive system tailors itself to everything from Normal roads, Sand, Snow/Grass/Gravel, Mud/Ruts, where the system senses what type of surface it is running through and adapts the gearing and traction accordingly.

From a packaging standpoint, Ford has freshened everything “north” of the A-pillars. LED low beams and fog lamps offer a distinctive look that helps to frame the grille. The other available trim levels receive trim-specific grilles and lighting. In the case of the Platinum, the grille is made up of a diamond matrix design that gives a class-above vibe that dresses up the overall appearance of the vehicle.

At the rear, a cleaner appearance is the result of exhaust finishers that are now incorporated into cutouts that give a more refined look. And although not visual, the hands-free liftgate makes an appearance on our Platinum Explorer, and opens the liftgate with a sweep of a foot under the bumper. All Platinum models are equipped with Class III towing packages good to 5,000-pounds.

It’s what’s inside that counts, too
Inside the Explorer Platinum, it’s, to borrow another automaker’s marketing motto, the best or nothing. Featuring Sony’s 12-speaker, 500-watt audio system with Clear Phase Audio and Live Acoustics, which mimics the acoustic qualities of some of the world’s legendary concert halls, to massaging front seats that worked us from top to bottom, the Explorer’s interior is quite an attractive space in which to pass your time. The second row seating offers more legroom, while a power third row seat manages to carry a couple more, if needed.

A great road tripper, the Platinum is comfortable from almost every seat in the house. Interior designers did their part, as well, incorporating real aluminum, wood and leather, with diamond-quilted seating and Platinum stitching on the seat backs to let you know where all your hard-earned money went when purchasing this car. Smart charging USB ports were located throughout, and in the second row at the base of the center console. They offered high-speed charging on most modern smartphones.

Behind the third row of seats were 21-cubic feet of storage space. Stow them, and that space grows to 43.9 behind the second row. Fold those seats forward and watch the space grow to 81.7 cubic feet.

In addition to our high-zoot model, the Explorer can still fit most budgets from Base, XLT, Limited FWD, Limited 4WD, Sport FWD, and Sport 4WD. Prices range from a low of $33,400 to a range-topping $53,915. Available engines include a 2.3-liter inline 4-cylinder, a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6, and the 3.5-liter Twin-turbo EcoBoost. Ford realized a trend that showed more than 43-percent of buyers were opting for the higher range Limited and Sport models and figured the full-on Platinum was the next logical chapter in growing the Explorer’s legend.

The Explorer Platinum will offer competition against such offerings as the GMC Acadia Denali, Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit, Dodge Durango Citadel, Chevrolet Traverse, and Toyota Highlander.

Tech galore
The 2016 Explorer Platinum by nature of its “king of the hill status” possesses an embarrassment of riches when it comes to convenience and safety features. Adaptive Cruise Control leads the charge, and manages to slow down or speed up as traffic flow dictates. Ford’s Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) keeps you aware of vehicles in your blind spot, while lane keeping assist causes a pulsing in the wood and leather-wrapped steering wheel when crossing lane stripes without the use of a turn indicator.

Our favorite of the bunch was the Enhanced Active Park Assist system, which in addition to finding and parking itself in a properly sized parallel parking spot will now do the same feat with a perpendicular space. The Platinum package also included a 180-degree front and rear camera with washers. The system helped, through its park-out assist abilities to warn of cross traffic while trying to negotiate a parking lot at the local big box warehouse store.

Road worthy?
A beast of a performance is what we saw from the 3.5-liter Ecoboost twin turbocharged engine. Its 365 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque were just the things to get by the road-chokers driving through such American treasures as Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Teton National Park. Rather docile at the start, the EcoBoost stood up as an engine to be reckoned with, because of a sudden jab at the accelerator.

That sudden jab was needed in most cases because the engine and its rather tall tip-in seems geared more to making around town commutes tolerable on the senses, as well as the wallet. Those types of situations gave us an average fuel economy reading of 19.1 mpg, besting the EPA and its 16 city/ 22 highway, 18 average ratings by 1.1 mpg. But if you were ever in the mood to see your petro-dollars fly away, stand on that sucker to see the engine plow forward with the sense of urgency of a jet trying to make up for lost time in a head wind.

The independent front and rear suspension of the Explorer offered a comfortable and quiet ride environment, save for the massaging seats that actually made a noticeable groaning sound while undergoing its shiatsu massage functions. Luckily it was only noticed when we were not listening to Sirius XM’s Outlaw Country on the radio.

An aside: We understand the need for slower speed limits such as 45 and 55 mph, and slower still when wildlife presents itself, as it did in the National Parks, where we were able to observe rather closely, elk, buffalo, deer, beaver, and golden eagles. When it came to bears, we preferred the captive type as seen when we happened upon the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center in the town of West Yellowstone, which had bears and golden eagles in captivity. But if the speed limit were posted at 55mph during safe conditions, we would hope drivers maintain that speed. Instead, we found such specimens driving 35 mph in a 55 mph zone.

Leftlane’s bottom line
The 2016 Ford Explorer 4WD Platinum edition is a no-compromise SUV that enables its owners to have as much technology, power and luxury as they could possibly want, with the road going abilities that could take them virtually everywhere they want to go. That’s called building a legend.

2016 Ford Explorer Platinum, base price $52,970. Destination, $945.

Photos by Mark Elias.

Volvo’s redesigned XC90 has earned a Top Safety Pick Plus ranking from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The previous-generation XC90 already achieved a Top Safety Pick rating, however the redesigned SUV introduces an new automatic emergency braking (AEB) system to qualify for the ‘Plus’ designation. In IIHS tests, the self-braking system completely avoided collisions at speeds of 12 mph and 25 mph. Volvo’s previous AEB tech only worked at lower speeds.

The 2016 XC90 also received ‘good’ ratings in all of the IIHS crash scenarios. In the challenging small-overlap trial, the driver space was maintained well with less than two inches of intrusion. Dummy movement was well controlled, with effective control of head movement by the front and side-curtain airbags.

“Every Volvo currently rated by IIHS has earned a Top Safety Pick+, we are the only automaker that can claim that proud distinction,” said Volvo’s North American chief, Lex Kerssemakers. “The XC90 is the next step in our Vision 2020, which states that no one should be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo car by the year 2020.”

The new XC90 has been met with strong demand, exceeding initial sales expectations by approximately 15 percent.

General Motors has agreed to pay $575 million to settle several lawsuits associated with the 2014 ignition-switch defect crisis.

The funds have been set aside to resolve two different class-action lawsuits, starting with a death and injury case that includes claims for nearly 1,400 accident victims. GM suggests the litigation represents more than half of the personal-injury plaintiffs who have lawsuits pending in the multi-district litigation filed in the Southern District of New York.

The second lawsuit was filed in the Michigan by disgruntled shareholders who argued that GM failed in its obligation to report material risks to investors.

“The parties to these agreements have resolved difficult claims without the burden, expense and uncertainty of litigation,” said GM general counsel Craig Glidden.

The automaker did not disclose the specific settlement values for each lawsuit. The combined payout will be reflected in GM’s third-quarter financial results, which could also include the estimated $900 settlement that was reportedly reached with federal prosecutors.