Less is more with Volkswagen’s new TSI engine

EurotaxGlass’s Market Intelligence Unit has recently undertaken an assessment of the Volkswagen Group’s revolutionary new 1.4-litre TSI engine. The research was carried out to establish how the diminutive new engine is likely to perform within the UK market.

Traditionally the market is sceptical of small capacity engines when installed in anything other than ‘supermini’ sized vehicles. The perception of a mid-sized car fitted with a 1.4-litre engine is that of a somewhat underpowered vehicle with correspondingly indifferent fuel-consumption. Additionally, such cars have a poor image and remain relatively unloved on the used car market. A study of the new VW TSI ‘Twincharger’ engine looks set to transform those deep-rooted opinions and it is the opinion of EurotaxGlass’s that this engine represents something of a revolution within the market place.

Scheduled to make its first appearance under the bonnet of the VW Golf, the new engine produces up to 170 PS with outstanding torque characteristics. Significantly, the power, torque and performance figures of the TSI all out-perform those achieved by VW’s existing 2.0-litre FSI engine. These unique characteristics also provide a combined fuel-economy figure of 38.2 mpg, a figure that also improves upon that achieved by the 2.0-litre FSI engine.

Traditionally, downsizing turbocharged engines has led to unacceptable levels of turbo ‘lag’, but the combination of combined turbo and supercharging has eliminated these issues and the engine heralds a new era for small, lightweight engines. The fact that the TSI engine provides arguably the best all-round combination of characteristics in terms of power, economy, performance and price within the entire

Golf range has led EurotaxGlass’s to consider the engine’s prospects for commercial success very seriously.

"This engine will force the market to reconsider the merits of small capacity engines," says Alan Cole, Editor of EurotaxGlass’s Market Intelligence Unit. "Clearly consumers now have a real alternative to the larger, heavier and less economical petrol engines."

He continues: "This engine also has the real prospect of taking some share of the ever-increasing diesel market. Diesels command a significant price-premium over petrol variants, but many consumers do not cover sufficient mileage to ever recoup that investment through improved fuel economy. The TSI unit has a low CO2 rating which provides a ‘benefit in kind’ tax rating below that of many diesel cars, while the combination of competitive pricing and good economy may for many stack the odds in favour of the petrol car."

Unusually for a petrol engined derivative, the residual value forecast for the TSI is predicted to be worth a higher percentage of the original cost new when compared to the equivalent diesel engined version.

"The utilization of new technology that enables the downsizing of engines to more efficiently-sized units is likely to be an industry trend that we see more of in coming years," concludes Cole.