Volkswagen Group to fit particulate filters to all petrols

Volkswagen Group has announced it will introduce particulate filters to every petrol-powered vehicle in its range that's powered by the firm's direct-injection TSI and turbocharged TFSI engines.

Echoing a similar move announced by Mercedes-Benz earlier this year, the introduction of particulate filters is claimed by Volkswagen Group to help it cut soot emissions by 90 per cent.

The decision to introduce particulate filters is also thought to be a reaction to the firm's recent Dieselgate emissions scandal as the German car-making giant attempts to clean up its image globally.

It will affect vehicles made by Audi, Bentley, Skoda and Volkswagen, as well as Seat (not sold in Australia) and the first engines to receive the filters will be the 1.4-litre TSI and 2.0-litre TFSI four-cylinders.

The first models to come fitted with the filters will be the Volkswagen Tiguan SUV and the Audi A5, which get the soot-reducing tech in June next year.

Volkswagen Group says that by 2022, seven million of its cars will be fitted with the filters -- something that, in the past, was only thought necessary for diesel-powered engines.

Commenting on the introduction of filters on petrols, VW Group's R&D boss said: "Following increases in efficiency and lower CO2 output, we are now bringing about a sustained reduction in the emission levels of our modern petrol engines by fitting particulate filters as standard.

"In the future, all models will be equipped with the latest and most efficient SCR [selective catalytic reduction] catalytic converter technology."

In May Mercedes-Benz also announced that it too would add particulate filters to its petrol engines.

The first models to get the new particulate filtered petrol engines is the facelifted S-Class range that goes on sale early 2017.