Volkswagen Emphasizes Downsizing at 30th Vienna Engine Symposium; Highlights 1.2 TSI and 1.6 TDI
14 May 2009
| The new 1.6-liter TDI. Click to enlarge. |
Continuing to emphasize a downsizing approach, Volkswagen presented two new engines at the at the 30th Vienna Engine Symposium (7-8 May): the 1.2-liter TSI gasoline engine and the 1.6-liter TDI diesel. Both engines will be available to order for the new Polo and the Golf this year. (Earlier post.)
Due to its modular structure, the 1.6-liter TDI engine will serve as a basis for all future four-cylinder diesel engines of Volkswagen.
The potential of internal combustion engines is far from exhausted. Both engines impressively show how Volkswagen reduces the CO2 emissions and the fuel consumption and that to fungible costs. Downsizing is rigorously being developed in the volume segments with the 1.2 TSI and the 1.6 TDI.
—Dr Jens Hadler, Head of Engine Development at Volkswagen
| The 1.2 TSI. Click to enlarge. |
1.2 TSI. Volkswagen completes the TSI engine family with the four-cylinder, 1.2-liter 77 kW (103 hp) TSI engine. The turbocharged four-cylinder engine was completely redeveloped, and it follows the downsizing philosophy of the successful 1.4 TSI (three-time winner of the Engine of the Year Award) and 2.0 TSI.
The engine combines gasoline direct injection with a turbocharger to deliver strong performance levels and torque curve despite its smaller displacement. The maximum torque of 175 N·m (129 lb-ft) is available at a low engine speed of 1,500 rpm. The Polo 1.2 TSI accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.7 seconds and has a top speed of 190 km/h (118 mph).
The continued development of the engine technology of the small engine family uses rigorous friction optimization and lightweight construction. The engine, with an aluminium crankcase and a completely newly developed combustion process, combines pulling power, high fuel economy and low emissions.
Applied in the fifth-generation Polo, the 1.2 TSI consumes 5.5 L/100km (43 mpg US), with 129 g/km CO2. Compared to the retired 1.6-liter engine of the previous model, average fuel consumption was lowered by 1.2 liter. This corresponds to a 30 g/km reduction in CO2 emissions.
1.6 TDI. The new 1.6-liter TDI engine was presented at the Engine Symposium by Falko Rudolph, Head of Volkswagen Diesel Engine Development, as “an engine as universal as the Golf”. The new entry-level engine for the Polo and the Golf offers with good driving performance with low fuel consumption. The engine will be available in the 55 kW (74 hp) (only Polo), 66 kW (89 hp) and 77 kW (103 hp) options. It meets the EU 5 exhaust emission standard.
The 1.6 TDI variants use a common rail system with an injection pressure of 1,600 bar. Piezo actuators control multiple injections with highly precise fuel quantities and timing.
In an effort to reduce internal engine friction, crankshaft, valve and oil pump drives were optimized. A square stroke/bore ratio minimizes friction losses at the cylinder liners. Furthermore, flow energy losses were reduced in oil and coolant loops as well as air induction and charge air flows.
The 66 kW variant is available in with the BlueMotion package. The resulting car offers fuel consumption is just 3.6 L/100km (65 mpg US), corresponding to a CO2 value of 96 g/km. In the standard version without BlueMotion package, the same engine consumes 4.2 liters (56 mpg US).
This is important because VW will sell a lot of these engines across VW, SEAT, Skoda and maybe Audi.
CO2 < 100 gms/km is not to be sneezed at for a non-hybrid car.
Also, the Polo is a lot larger than it used to be - it is now larger than the original Golf of the mid '70's
Posted by: mahonj | 14 May 2009 at 08:43 AM
The story was only missing one final sentence... these engines will not be sold in America.
Maybe VW has a v10 they can sell here.
Posted by: jimfromthefoothills | 14 May 2009 at 09:05 AM
This is the level of thinking that should be pervading the US automakers, instead of wasting time refining V6s.
65 mpg for the 1.6L TDI is going to be quite a selling point as gas prices climb back into the stratosphere.
Posted by: Will S | 14 May 2009 at 10:04 AM
At 65 mpg it will match the first generation Toyota Prius III PHEV-12 with a small battery pack.
However, post-2010/11 PHEV-40 + will do even much better, specially for shorter (60-100 Km) trips if it can be recharged at both ends.
High efficientcy diesels do a very job on longer trips, even with larger vehicles.
Posted by: HarveyD | 14 May 2009 at 10:28 AM
If they combined a TDI with a hybrid drive they could...well...have the PNGV cars that got 70 mpg 10 years ago! :)
Posted by: SJC | 14 May 2009 at 11:03 AM
If they can make the much bigger 2.0 TDI engine meet EPA Tier 2 Bin 5 standard, Volkswagen could make the 1.6 TDI engine meet the same standard with no problems. Since VW has confirmed they are bringing the Polo to the USA market, the 1.6 TDI rated at around 89 bhp plus the new 7-speed DSG could get around 50 mpg in EPA 2008 testing! :-)
Posted by: RaymondC | 14 May 2009 at 04:46 PM