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Volkswagen 1.4L Twin Charger – Turbo & Supercharged For centuries conventional wisdom has led us to believe ‘more is more’. While that may ring true for many things in life, when it comes to Twitter updates, plastic surgery, carbon emissions or the size of your car’s engine, less really is more. Turbo Stratified Injection (TSI) engines embody this principle entirely and have proved to be a formidable opposition to larger capacity engines. Lighter, smaller and leaner, TSI engines still deliver all the power and performance that consumers demand and more. Its secret is reduced friction in a TSI engine, which in turn leads to a reduction in power loss. Being lighter, the engine also has less weight to shift in the car. SMALLER ENGINE, MORE POWER The worldwide trend in the motor industry is making more with less. One innovative way of doing this is producing engines that provide the same performance using fewer kilowatts. With Formula One Racing setting the example at the highest class of competition, engine sizes are getting smaller. The 2013 season was the final year the series would use the 2.4L V8 engine. From 2014 a 1.6L turbocharged V6 engine formula will replace it. Dr Rudolf Krebs, Head of Volkswagen’s engine development department, points out that being small has its evolutionary advantages. SUPER CHARGED, TURBO CHARGED Volkswagen’s TSI engine range includes smaller capacity twincharged engines, as well as larger capacity turbocharged engines. All TSI engines have a turbocharger but engines with a higher output also have a supercharger. “The easiest way to get more air into an engine is to pressurise it with a special sort of pump and there are two types you can use: supercharger or turbocharger,” Dr Krebs points out. Turbochargers run off an engine’s exhaust gases. This means they don’t sap engine power but cause a delay before the exhaust gas pressure gets high enough to work the turbo, called turbo lag. Superchargers, on the other hand, run directly on engine power
so they work immediately but constantly soak up engine power, making them less efficient. “The best solution is combining the advantages of both supercharger and turbocharger, which effectively removes their disadvantages. That’s exactly what some TSI engines do. They use a supercharger for low engine revs and a turbocharger when it gets to higher revs,” according to Dr Krebs. Turbochargers increase the air throughput of an engine by compressing the air required for combustion. By fitting a turbocharger power, torque and efficiency can therefore all be increased compared to a naturally aspirated engine with the same displacement. The turbocharger consists of two rigidly connected turbines, one of which is driven by the hot exhaust stream. Due to the rigid connection, the other turbine – which is referred to as the compressor wheel – is propelled at the same time, causing
it to compress the inflowing fresh air. The compressed air is subsequently cooled down in an intercooler in order to reduce its volume and get more air – meaning more oxygen – into the combustion chamber. Besides increasing power output, turbocharging primarily has the effect of saving energy and lowering emissions. The term “supercharger” denotes boosting the charge pressure of an engine by means of a mechanically driven compressor. This increases the density of the air drawn in and is powered by means of a belt. As a result of the higher pressure, the level of charge in the individual cylinders is improved, with the result that more air is available for the combustion of fuel. In contrast to the turbocharger, the mechanical supercharger responds immediately from idling speeds. There is no delay resulting from “turbo-lag”.
PACKS A PUNCH The TSI engine is a bit like a short stick of dynamite. It may be inconspicuous, but it has enough ‘bang’ to burn up the road. Volkswagen has moved from higher capacity engines of 1.6 litres into lower capacity engines of 1.2 litres. Despite a smaller engine, it still boasts a similar power output without adding a supercharger engine. It increases your car’s power and provides this power at lower revs. Perhaps one of the best things about the TSI engine is its dislike of petrol stations. While you get a better performing engine, fuel consumption is significantly lower, reducing CO2 emissions and helping pave the way to a greener future. TO NEW HEIGHTS Thunderstorms, deserts and wilderness, the Highveld in South Africa boasts some of the most spectacular scenery and terrain but also some of the toughest. Volkswagen has subjected the TSI engine to over 50,000 hours of torturous testing to ensure maximum reliability. It also handles high altitude conditions with ease. A naturally aspirated engine (no turbocharger) loses between 10% and 17% of its claimed power in high altitude conditions; this is especially applicable to vehicles sold on the Highveld where altitudes range from 1,500 metres to 2,100 metres above sea level. The air is thinner at high altitudes therefore the airflow into the engine is also less dense than at sea level, and less effective at burning fuel. This means less power and torque.
That’s how we ROLL “In reviews, we found that this Volkswagen Jetta sets itself apart from other domestic and Japanese sedans by offering a distinctly European interior and driving experience.” – www.edmunds.com We didn’t say it. They did! It looks good, feels good and rides like a dream. You definitely get your money’s worth with the only twin charged engine in its class in Jamaica (1.4L Turbo Supercharged), a 7 Speed Dual Shift Gearbox (DSG), 160hp, 240Nm of torque, combined fuel economy of 47MPG, going from 0-100kmh in 8.3 seconds and a 5 Star crash safety rating. If you enjoy driving, book your test drive now.
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