First, the good news:

* The affected vehicles actually run betterthan they would have, had VW not "recalibrated" the software that runs the computer that controls the operation of the engines in these vehicles.

They get higher mileage – and give better performance.

The last time something like this happened – that I know about – was back in 1973, when GM's Pontiac division (RIP) tried to slip the high-performance SD-455 V8 (destined for the Trans-Am) under the EPA's radar by including this de-tuned race engine within the already-approved "family" of ordinary 455 V8s, even though the SD shared almost no parts (in particular, its high-performance camshaft) with ordinary, run-of-the-mill 455s. EPA found out – and Pontiac got "busted." But back then, people cheered Pontiac.