This makes the 1.4-liter TSI the most successful engine in the 15-year history of this international engine technology competition.

In addition, Volkswagen received the coveted “Best New Engine Award” for the TSI technology in combination with automatic cylinder deactivation (ACT). This award recognizes the best engine development of the past 12 months.

Since 2006, Volkswagen has received a total of 12 trophies from the “Engine of the Year” jury for the constantly enhanced 1.4-liter TSI engine with the internal designation EA 211 – seven class victories, two overall victories, two “Best New Engine” awards and one “Green Engine of the Year” award.

The committee, which is made up of 87 international trade journalists, has given the TSI technology a historic string of victories.

At the same time, Volkswagen is launching into a new era of engine production with its latest innovation – the TSI with ACT cylinder deactivation.

The Wolfsburg-based company said it was the world’s first manufacturer to introduce active cylinder management (ACT) in the TSI four-cylinder last year – a technology that until then had been more familiar in large eight- or twelve-cylinder engines. Active cylinder management made its debut in the European market Polo and Golf. Temporary shutoff of the second and third cylinders – in conjunction with an economical style of driving – reduces fuel consumption by over 0.5 liters per 100 kilometers.

Even with two cylinders the 1.4 TSI is said ti run just as quietly and with low vibration as with four active combustion chambers. All mechanical switchover processes take place within one camshaft rotation; depending on engine speed this takes between 13 and 36 milliseconds. Accompanying interventions in ignition and throttle valve processes smooth the transitions.

Altogether, the components of active cylinder management weigh just 3 kilograms. Their actuators, the camshafts and their bearing frames are integrated in the cylinder heat; two low-friction bearings reduce shaft friction.

Important to know: only with the TSI concept – gasoline direct injection plus turbocharging – is cylinder deactivation even conceivable in the form being implemented today.

Compared to its predecessor, fuel consumption and CO2 emission values of the TSI engines were reduced by 9 percent in part also by such measures as reducing internal friction, lowering weight and optimizing thermal management. The savings potential is as much as 15 percent in conjunction with the active cylinder management (ACT) feature.

Volkswagen said it is the global leader in charging strategies for engines with direct fuel injection, and to date it has produced over 3.8 million TSI engines at five production sites worldwide.

The only VW vehicle currently sold in North America with the EA 211 is the Jetta Hybrid.

The post VW’s 1.4-Liter TSI Awarded For Seventh Consecutive Time appeared first on HybridCars.com.

The winner, to be selected among this group, will be announced Friday, April 12 at the Green Living Show, in the Direct Energy Centre at Toronto’s Exhibition Place.

The finalists were selected by members of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada from a variety of environmentally advanced vehicles nominated by their manufacturers.

The finalists include a plug-in hybrid, three conventional hybrids and a highly efficient internal combustion vehicle.

The finalists are:

- Ford C-MAX Energi

- Ford Fusion Hybrid

- Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

- Mazda3

- Volkswagen Jetta Turbocharged Hybrid

The award, presented by AJAC and Green Living Enterprises, which hosts the annual show, has been launched to recognize vehicles with the potential for strong environmental benefits and to provide consumers with authoritative information about them.

“The judges found the choice difficult because all the entrants are worthy, and they incorporate such differing routes to greener driving,” said Peter Gorrie, chair of AJAC’s Green Car Award steering committee.

The competition placed heavy emphasis on fuel economy and emissions, but also considered other environmental features within each vehicle – for example, use of recycled or naturally sourced materials – and steps each manufacturer has taken to green its operations.  Equally important, it assessed market potential – factors such as build quality, driving experience, overall features, availability, general consumer appeal and price.

“Driving is the most energy-intensive action most people do every day; our hope is this award will shine a light on how folks can improve their health, their planet and their monthly fuel bills, if they have to use a car,” said committee member Michael Bettencourt.

Other nominees included the Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel, Chevrolet Volt, Ford Edge EcoBoost, Ford Focus Electric, Mazda CX-5, Mazda6, Mercedes-Benz B 250 Turbo, Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Nissan Leaf and Smart Fortwo Electric Drive.

“After all, a car loaded with ‘green’ features will make a difference only if it sells in large numbers and supplants lesser models,” Gorrie said. “While EVs represent impressive technology that focus might have prevented the four battery-electric nominees from making the final five.”

The association said the award ceremony will take place at 9:45 a.m., Friday April 12 at the Green Living Show’s main stage.

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The 2013 Jetta Hybrid is part of an about-face by VW Group to go the way of hybridization, and more models are expected to follow. It’s presently the second VW-badged hybrid aside from the Toureg, and VW Group’s formula in its Porsche and Audi hybrids has been to infuse fun-to-drive, and other perceived anti-Prius attributes.

To wit, instead of an infinitely variable ration CVT transmission, the Jetta Hybrid gets a performance-friendly seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Instead of a 0-60 time of around 10 seconds, the Jetta Hybrid promises 7.9 seconds or so.

Instead of road handling that is merely acceptable, VW has been touting the car’s adroitness on tarmac, as well as doing promotional things like running modified versions at up to 186 mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats and in the California desert to show what potential this compact four-door has next to other hybrids.

The Jetta Hybrid costs more than the also efficient, and popular Jetta TDI, but in Geneva in 2010, the company’s chairman, Martin Winterkorn was quoted as saying “We will take the hybrid out of its niche status with our high-volume models. In the future, the heart of the brand will also beat with electricity.”

Game On

Volkswagen’s full hybrid Jetta pairs the company’s latest EA211 1.4-liter turbo four with a 27-horsepower electric motor.

The gas engine is direct injected, said to be rated at 150 horsepower at 5,000 rpm, and 184 pound-feet of torque at a low 1,600 rpm.

A hybrid module is merged as a single, integrated unit incorporating both the water-cooled electric motor and the clutch that connects it to the engine. This electric motor can also generate 114 pound-feet of torque, but this is limited by the transmission.

Total system power is rated at 170 horsepower at 5,000 rpm, and 184 pounds feet at just 1,000 rpm.

The car utilizes an 11.9 gallon fuel tank, and its EPA rating is 42 mpg city, 48 highway, 45 combined.

Its DQ200 transmission is said to be the most efficient in VW’s dual-clutch lineup, uses a dry clutch, and can be operated like an auto or manual.

The hybrid system has multiple modes. Default upon startup is Electric mode, in which the car operates up to 37 mph for over one mile as an EV.

Putting the foot down hard, or hitting a hill can kick on the gas engine.

Assuming enough battery charge, if the driver selects the “E-Mode” button, the electric mode is maintained up to 44 mph and allows for more aggressive gas pedal inputs.

Above 37 mph (44 in E-Mode), the Turbo Power mode kicks in, which is VW’s way of saying the turbo gas engine seamlessly turns on and engages.

Another mode is “Boosting,” in which both the engine and motor work together for maximum power.

The vehicle also uses regenerative braking and “coasting” in which the the engine is shut off and is decoupled from the driveline at speeds up to 84 mph. This is to save fuel, for instance, when the car is going down a slope or is coasting to a halt.

As for the rest of the car, it is all Jetta – that is to say, its four-wheel independent suspension is set up for firm-enough, and lively handling.

The front suspension uses damper struts with lower control arms and an anti-roll bar. In back is a multi-link, independent layout with gas-pressurized dampers and separate coil springs.

The car weighs nearly 3,400 pounds, and is 160 pounds heavier than a Jetta GLI, but word has it that its fun-to-drive quotient is not a lot far off. Naturally, also, accelerating hard and often will decrease the promised EPA numbers.

The hybrid Jetta lineup has several trim levels.

The Jetta Hybrid is available through special order, and starts $24,995. The Jetta Hybrid SE starts at $26,990; Jetta Hybrid SEL starts at $29,325 And the SEL Premium starts at $31,180.

We will have a full review as soon as possible, but in the mean time, for more info, you can consult VW’s Web site.

The post 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid Overview appeared first on HybridCars.com.

It also becomes the seventh model offered by the manufacturer capable of more than 40 mpg on the highway.

The other models to achieve more than 40 mpg are all part of the TDI Clean Diesel family: Beetle TDI (manual); Beetle Convertible TDI (manual); Golf TDI (manual and automatic); Jetta TDI (manual and automatic); Jetta SportWagen TDI (manual); and Passat TDI (manual and automatic).

Its Jetta Hybrid is Volkswagen’s second hybrid vehicle to go on sale in the U.S. and its first in the compact hybrid sedan segment.

The hybrid version of the brand’s popular sedan uses a four-cylinder, 1.4-liter, turbocharged and direct-injected TSI engine that is combined to an electric motor and a seven-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission. This is a unique way to build a hybrid in this class, where most others will go the CVT route.

Power is rated at is 170 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque.

The Jetta Hybrid goes on sale at the end of 2012, priced from $24,995.

The post VW Now Offers Seven Models With More Than 40 MPG appeared first on HybridCars.com.

A hybrid version of the Jetta will be offered in the U.S. in 2012—followed by Passat and Golf Hybrids in 2013. The Volkswagen press release states with no lack of confidence: “Starting in 2013, the high-volume Golf and Jetta models of the Volkswagen brand are expected to dominate the hybrid and electric vehicle market.” In fact, the company says that hybrid and electric vehicles will account for three percent of the German carmaker’s global sales by 2018.

What Do We Know About Jetta Hybrid?

Wrapped in the sheet metal of the newly introduced 2011 Jetta, the gas-electric model will be a full hybrid, using VW’s twincharger TSI in-line four-cylinder engine. It’s not confirmed if the 2012 Jetta Hybrid will use a 1.4-liter twincharger engine, or larger versions that Volkswagen is developing.

Volkswagen describes the Jetta Hybrid as having “best in class” fuel economy—most likely stacking up against (but probably not reaching) the Honda Civic Hybrid’s 41 mpg—while besting the Civic and other competition for horsepower.

Pricing has not been revealed, but expect a significant premium over the Jetta’s base price to push the price into the low- to mid-$20,000s. To achieve its lofty sales goals, VW will need to be competitive—something the company was willing to do when the 2011 Jetta was priced about $1,700 less than the previous version.

While the Civic Hybrid first appears to be the closest competition, the Jetta Hybrid more logically stacks up against the TDI version of the same Jetta. (The Jetta will represent the first time an automaker offers hybrid and clean diesel options on a cost-competitive model.)

The Jetta TDI clean diesel, rated at 30 in the city and 41 on the highway, carries a base MSRP of $22,995. Expect city and highway fuel efficiency numbers to be reversed in the Jetta Hybrid—with city driving in the 40s and highway mileage in the mid-to high-30 neighborhood. Consumers are likely to make the hybrid versus diesel decision based on driving cycle. Do you mostly drive on the highway? Go diesel. Mostly city driving? Take the hybrid. (Of course, we’ll have to wait and see how a VW hybrid handles the road.)

“VW as a brand takes the electrification of the automobile very seriously, and we have a longtime strategy for growing that business,” promised Toscan Bennett, a VW product strategist. “The Jetta hybrid is our first entry in that strategy.”

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Volkswagen, along with other European auto companies, has long proclaimed diesels as a better green strategy than hybridization. True, diesels are efficient and practical, but in the U.S., they have a reputation of being noisy and smelly. VW has worked hard to overcome that image with cars like the Jetta TDI but now are apparently changing direction (although they still like diesels).

During a press conference last week at its Electronics Research Lab in Palo Alto, California, Volkswagen chairman Dr. Martin Winterkorn repeated the company’s electrified slogan: “In the future, the heart of Volkswagen will also beat with electricity.” And in an opaque reference to the original Beetle, Winterkorn told the gathered media that “Volkswagen is working on the electric car for everyone.” (We’ll report on VW’s electric car strategy on PluginCars.com later today.) He added that hybrid and electric vehicles will account for three percent of the German carmaker’s global sales by 2018.

The Roadmap

Winterkorn concluded his remarks by laying out the company’s roadmap for hybrid and electric vehicle introductions into the United States. First up is the 2011 Touareg Hybrid, which launches later this year.

The Touareg Hybrid pairs a 333 horsepower, 3.0-liter supercharged direct injection V6 gasoline engine with a 34-kilowatt (47 horsepower) electric motor. Completing the powertrain is an eight-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel drive setup.

Drawing juice from a 145 pound, 1.7-kWh nickel-metal hydride battery pack tucked into the spare-tire well, the Touareg Hybrid can do some cool tricks—like traveling on electric power up to 31 mph for up to a mile or so. Also, VW engineers cleverly positioned a clutch between the engine and transmission that can shut down the V6 at speeds up to 99 mph. The company refers to this as “sailing” and results in incremental increases in fuel economy. Real-world combined mileage will be around 20 mpg. That’s a nice jump from the conventional version, but not exactly the ultimate green SUV.

Like all full hybrids, the Touareg Hybrid shuts the engine off when the vehicle comes to a stop and starts up again in electric mode. Under deceleration or braking, the electric motor acts as a generator and sends electricity to the battery pack. The Touareg’s hybrid system will be shared with the Audi Q5 Hybrid and Porsche S Cayenne Hybrid that are set to arrive later this year. Porsche will also build a limited number of the hybrid 918 Spyder hypercar.

Pricing has not been released for the Touareg Hybrid, but expect around $5,000 to $6,000 more than the base V6 gas engine model, which starts at about $41,000.

The VW hybrid sales volume leader will be the 2012 Jetta Hybrid. Wrapped in the sheetmetal of the newly introduced 2011 Jetta, this gas-electric model will be a full hybrid. Surprisingly, the Jetta Hybrid’s gasoline engine will be the U.S. debut of VW’s twincharger TSI in-line four cylinder.

Not to be confused with the TwinDrive plug-in hybrid shown in 2008, the twincharger TSI incorporates both a supercharger and a turbocharger, and has been available in Europe since 2006 in the VW Golf. The supercharger provides boost at low rpm with the turbo kicking in for top-end power. It’s a novel use of forced induction, with the supercharger blowing through the turbo’s compressor before heading to the intercooler, then the intake manifold.

Combined with direct injection, the forced induction gives the 1.4-liter four nearly the same performance as the 2.0-liter turbo, but is more efficient and therefore delivers higher fuel mileage and fewer emissions.

It’s not confirmed that the 2012 Jetta Hybrid will use the 1.4-liter twincharger engine. Volkswagen is developing 1.2- and 1.6-liter versions and either are possibilities.
Again, pricing has not been revealed, but expect a $3,000 to $5,000 premium over the Jetta’s base price of $15,995.

But wait, there’s more. The VW Passat will be offered with a hybrid powertrain in 2013 followed by the Golf, but it’s not a given they will be offered in the U.S. Audi is working to hybridize the A8 sedan, but no introduction was given.

Why this emphasis on hybrid and electric vehicles by Volkswagen? Simple. Governments are tightening rules to cut emissions. VW’s ambitions are to nearly triple its share in the U.S., the world’s second-biggest auto market, to six percent by 2018 and increase sales to one million cars, including 200,000 Audi vehicles. To meet the California dictate, and similar eco-rules around the world, the automaker will indeed have to make the “electric car for everyone” and put some electricity into the cars everyone is already buying.

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