More powerful and frugal engines from VW

Monday, October 31, 2005

  • Combine pulling power with performance & economy
  • TSI engines have both supercharger & turbocharger
  • First appear in Golf, but no prices yet

golf fsi engine medium

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Volkswagen will introduce the first of a new family of petrol engines in December, aimed at giving massive low-down pulling power, good economy and high performance.

Badged TSI, it works with the company’s direct-injection fuelling system, assisted by a supercharger and a turbocharger.

The supercharger boosts low-rev pulling strength while the turbo aids high-rev performance.

The first engine is a 1.4-litre unit developing 170bhp and 177lb ft of pull. That pull is available from 1700 to 4500rpm but 90% of it is available from only 1000rpm. VW claims it makes cars so driveable that you can drive around town in fifth gear.

The engine will first go into the Golf, which is expected to achieve 40mpg on the combined cycle – a remarkable figure for a 170bhp car.

A 140bhp engine, aimed at giving even greater economy with only slightly less performance, will go into the Touran MPV.

The same technology will eventually be applied to all 1.6- and 2.0-litre FSI engines. In the future it is highly likely that the company's smaller engines will also be converted to FSI, so that they can deliver outstanding driveability and economy from a very small capacity unit.

Details on prices and UK release dates are not yet available.