Volkswagen launches new 1.5-litre TSI engine with variable turbine geometry
VW’s EA211 TSI evo petrol engine debuts with variable turbine geometry, cylinder deactivation and Miller cycle, targeting improved efficiency over the outgoing 1.4 TSI.
Volkswagen has revealed its new 1.5-litre TSI petrol engine, introducing variable turbine geometry to a mass-produced spark-ignition engine for the first time. The EA211 TSI evo family, announced at the Vienna Motor Symposium, will replace the company’s 1.4-litre TSI units across several core models later in 2016.
The new engine will be offered in two power outputs: 130 PS (96 kW) and 150 PS (110 kW). Both versions use a turbocharger with variable turbine geometry (VTG), a technology previously reserved for diesels and high-end performance petrols. Volkswagen says this is the first time VTG has been applied to a mass-market spark-ignition petrol engine, with the aim of improving responsiveness and efficiency across a broad rev range.
Technical highlights and efficiency gains
Alongside VTG, the EA211 TSI evo uses the Miller combustion cycle and a high compression ratio of 12.5:1. Cylinder deactivation is standard, shutting down two cylinders under light loads to save fuel. Volkswagen claims the new engine delivers maximum torque from as low as 1,300 rpm, with a 10 percent improvement in efficiency compared to the outgoing 1.4 TSI. Fuel consumption is said to drop by as much as one litre per 100 km under certain conditions.
- 130 PS version: 200 Nm from 1,300 to 4,500 rpm, max power between 4,750 and 5,500 rpm
- 150 PS version: full details not yet released
Rollout across VW Group models
Volkswagen expects the 1.5 TSI evo to appear in the Golf, Skoda Octavia and Audi A3 later in 2016, phasing out the previous 1.4-litre TSI. The new engine is part of a wider strategy to improve fuel economy and emissions across the group’s mainstream petrol offerings. Diesel and further petrol variants are also planned as part of the EA211 evo family.
The move follows similar updates by rival manufacturers, as seen with the new engines in the Mercedes C-Class facelift and the latest BMW 3 Series Touring. For Volkswagen, the new 1.5 TSI evo is a key step in keeping its core models competitive on efficiency and technology.
