VW Golf TSI

[Slicks]

It's so that the car gets a useable powerband.
With the supercharger, you get low-end power and torque. The turbo gives midrange and high-rpm power and torque.
I think it's a good idea, but it will be a bear to fix if it breaks. Expensive, too.

 

[Tornado]

Just sounds like more to go wrong to me. 168 bhp is pretty poor for a car turbocharged and supercharged, even for a 1.4.

But does 40 MPG sound poor as well? Bless it's heart, I bet it runs on regular as well.

Funny thing: the 2.0 TDI engine also has 170 hp, but puts out 250 ft-lbs of torque at 1750 rpm. The 1.4 has only 177 ft-lbs torque.

And the punchline: the TDI gets 48 MPG. Smaller engines do not necessarily mean better economy, especially when paired with the increased fuel demands of forced induction. Look at the S2000 or RX8.

There is a very good reason for that. It's called "the TDI is a diesel". Therefore, being a deisel, it is automatically not as much fun, doesn't rev as high and genreally less of a drivers car, even if it is faster.

 

[niky]

I was going to say that.

There are turbodiesels that provide spirited performance and good gas consumption, but in the 1.4-1.5 liter range, they're still only making 100 or less hp (there may be exceptions, don't flame on me). Plus turbodiesels are heavy and not really revvy. If you want an entertaining car that gets good gas mileage, I think a twincharged 1.4 would be perfect.

In stock trim or production models, I don't see a charged 1.4 making much more than this one is already making without becoming hideously expensive. Older 1.3-1.5 turbos only make about 110-150 hp. So this FSI is actually pretty spectacular for a stock forced induction 1.4.

More power wouldn't defeat the fuel economy thing, but it would make the engine more expensive.

 

[Young_Warrior]

i think we will soon see 200/220hp out of 1.4's up to 1.6's as the hot hatches are getting more powerful they can only take so much power so manufacturers might make the engines smaller going back to basics and making their cars lighter. This would also make future hot hatches even more rev nutty I predict.