Volkswagen Group has confirmed that the EA288 diesel engine design does not feature any defeat software such as that found in the recent emissions scandal in the US.

The EA288 design was fitted to some vehicles in Euro 5 guise, and is presently supplied in EU-market vehicles with full legal Euro 6 compliance.

A Volkswagen Group statement said: "After thorough examination it is now confirmed that no software constituting an improper defeat device as defined in law is installed in vehicles with EA 288 EU5 engines.”

The confirmation follows reports in the US that 2016 model vehicles contained software, while unrelated to the 'defeat device', that aimed to reduce emissions.