On today’s show… the cost of VW’s diesel scandal jumped by another $5 billion, our impressions of the new Mopar Ram Rebel and denting your car door is a thing of the past. All that and more coming right up on Autoline Daily.

This is Autoline Daily for June 28th, 2016.

VW FINE CONTINUES TO GROW
Last week, its was reported that Volkswagen will pay around $10 billion to settle its diesel scandal in the U.S. But it’s going to cost the company a lot more than that. Bloomberg reports that the fine will be around $15 billion instead. About $10 billion of that will go towards buying back vehicles and compensating owners up to $10,000. Previously it was reported owners would get up to $7,000. But in order to receive that money, owners must agree to give up their cars or have them retrofitted to meet emission standards. VW was hoping that 85% of owners would take them up on the offer, but it’s now adjusting that estimate, which is a reason why the dollar figure has grown. On top of that, VW will pay the EPA and the California Air Resources Board just under $3 billion in fines. And the company will invest another $2 billion in clean emissions technology. The company also faces fines from other states. VW is due in court today to file its settlement. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. On a recent Autoline This Week, analysts concluded that the scandal could cost the company $70 billion worldwide once it’s all said and done.

NISSAN STRENGTHENS FUEL CELL PUSH
Earlier this month, Nissan revealed it’s developing a fuel cell capable of running on multiple fuels, including ethanol and natural gas. And to help make the technology a reality, the automaker just teamed up with UK based Ceres Power and M-Solv. The system generates electricity through a Solid Oxide Fuel-Cell, developed by Ceres, using stored bio-ethanol. Solid Oxide refers to the cell’s electrolyte material. One of the biggest advantages is that unlike other systems no additional CO2 is emitted when power is being generated. It also offers better long-term stability and lower overall cost. One of the big roadblocks hydrogen fuel cells must overcome is the lack of a re-fueling infrastructure. And this technology has the potential to solve that issue.

Still to come… a look at the new Audi Q2 and technology that will prevent you from denting your doors.

AUDI INTRODUCES NEW Q2
New products are what the car business is all about. That’s what brings customers into the showrooms. So it’s important to keep up with what’s new in the market. And here’s the latest from Audi, which just introduced the all-new Q2. The compact SUV is offered with three gasoline or three diesel engines, which range from 116 to 190 horsepower. The engines can be mated to a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual clutch transmission depending on the setup. It’s available with a number of safety features including traffic jam assist, which can autonomously drive the car at speeds up to 40 MPH in slow moving traffic. The new Q2 is available this fall in Europe with a starting price just below 23,000 euros, which is a little over $25,000. It will be available in the U.S. in the fourth quarter.

KIEKERT PUTS BRAKES ON DOOR DINGS
Our cars are already able to detect objects and brake automatically, but what if the same philosophy could be applied to other parts of the car? Technology supplier Kiekert has developed a system that detects objects in a car door’s path and prevents the door from hitting it. Called i-protect, the system uses a sensor to detect any stationary object and then sends a signal to a door brake. The brake is connected to the door arrester, which is sometimes called a door check or stay and will clamp down electromagnetically to keep the door from swinging into the object. No word if or when the system might hit the market. But just think. Annoying door dings could become a thing of the past.

Coming up next, we identify what kind of truck this is and what’s it’s like behind the wheel of the Mopar Ram Rebel.

LIKE A SYMPHONY TO MY EARS
Almost 2-weeks ago, FCA pulled the wraps off the Mopar ‘16 Ram Rebel and late last week I was fortunate enough to get behind the wheel of one. As we reported when it was first announced, the truck features mostly cosmetic enhancements, so it rides and drives like most Ram pickups. But there are a couple of areas where it differs. Like any Mopar-branded vehicle, only a handful will be made with unique badging and decals on the inside and out. This truck also only comes in two paint schemes, red with black accents and all black and each one comes with its own custom owner’s kit. Perhaps the biggest difference is the way this truck sounds. It can be had with a cold-air intake and cat-back exhaust system. It really does offer a good balance between intake and exhaust noise. Sounds nice and throaty when you stomp on it, but calms back down to a tolerable decibel at cruising speed. For any Ram pickup owner that’s interested, the cold-air intake and cat-back exhaust are available through Mopar. Look for the Mopar ‘16 Ram Rebel to start hitting dealer lots very soon.

AUSSIE UTE FINDS ITS WAY TO THE UK
Last week we asked for your help identifying this small truck spotted by an Autoline viewer and, as always, you all didn’t disappoint. It’s a Ford Zephyr MK II Coupe Utility. The Zephyr was produced by Ford of Britain for that market from 1952 to 1972, which is where this Barn Find was spotted. But, interestingly enough, the Ute version was only built in Australia, so very unique to see one make its way back to the UK. Thanks to Chris Radcliffe for sending the pictures in and if you see an interesting car or anything interesting that’s related to automotive, please take a moment to take a picture and send it our way.

But that wraps up today’s show, thanks for watching and please join us again tomorrow for the latest news in the automotive industry.