I don't see why petrol motors should be affected. The diesel market in the US is only about 3% (50% in the UK) as there isn't the same cost incentive for ownership over there. So diesel cars are being pushed as "green" instead. Whilst the CO2 emissions are slightly lower, it seems very difficult for manufacturers to avoid the clouds of NOx and carcinogenic oil-coated soot etc that we see every day over here. Petrol cars don't have this issue.
Agree with you entirely on the Nox. The EU6 emissions targets specific to NOx is easily achievable for petrol engines, for diesels however, the NOx target for EU6 is a big drop from EU5 targets, which were a challenge to meet in the first place.
The DPFs do a good job in reducing soot, and in fact as petrol cars start behaving more like diesels (direct injection), they are more likely to emit soot of their own, smaller particulates that have the potential to be more harmful than those from diesel (more easily breathed into the lungs, and more mobile in the air), yet have no current requirements for a DPF. Cars like the 7R have direct injection, but also a post main injection "wash" indirect injection. This helps reducing the particulates and prevents the engine from coking up. Cars like the latest Mini generation are direct injection, but without that "wash" injection to clean things up - you can see reports of those engines needing decoking.
Cars aren't green, but they can be at their greenest when properly maintained. Pre-DPF diesels are absolutely filthy. More should be done to incentivise taking those off the road. Similarly a misfiring, badly maintained petrol car will be spewing out unburnt Benzene (used as an anti-knock agent, one of the most potent carcinogens there is) and vapourised fuel.
Seems like a typical Daily Mail story that has been blown up. If (I say more like "when") the other companies are caught at it, this will blow over and we will get some emissions testing reform.
For the litigation eager Yanks, they will be looking to batter the non-domestic marques to protect their own (Ford, GM, Chrysler etc.). With their fuel prices, a diesel in the US seems utterly pointless unless you're talking a big diesel V6/V8 4x4 anyway.