Golf to follow Tiguan's all-blown lead

Volkswagen's new MkVI Golf is set to launch Down Under with a full range of 'blown' engines. Indeed, when the car arrives Down Under in the second quarter of 2009, even the base engine will be turbocharged.

The news came at this week's launch of the new Golf VI in Iceland. Though the Volkswagen Australia spokesperson present would not comment on the planned engine line-up for the new car, factory personnel confirmed that a conventional 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated version of the new Golf was dead and buried.

The move to an all-blown Golf range has precedent. Volkswagen launched its Tiguan softroader with an all-turbo line-up Down Under and recently confirmed the sole 2.0 FSI naturally-aspirated version of the Jetta would be replaced by a 1.4 Twincharger (super and turbocharged) variant.

Though the new Golf VI includes a 75kW 1.6-litre naturally aspirated fuel-injected engine in its launch line-up, VW's insiders confirmed it would be replaced as soon as the second quarter of 2009. The replacement engine is a turbocharged 1.2-litre four-cylinder powerplant rated at 77kW. The only other 'atmo' Golf, the 1.4-litre 59kW base variant is considered a loss-leading Euro model only.

The engines that will underpin the new Golf VI range Down Under are VW's new-generation TSI powerplants -- all of which have been designed from scratch to be mated to the company's new seven-speed DSG gearbox.

Until the new GTI is unveiled (see separate story), the top performing petrol Golf powerplant will be a version of the Twincharger 1.4-litre TSI. With 118kW and 240Nm from 1500-4500rpm, the turbo and supercharged engine has already been seen Down Under in its 125kW/240Nm Golf GT guise.

Matched to the new seven-speed DSG, VW is claiming the new 118 TSI returns a Euro combined cycle economy of just 6.0L/100km. Zero to 100km/h is a respectable 8.0sec.

It is unlikely the 1.2-litre will make its way to Australia. Instead the Golf will be pushed upmarket and a new turbo-only version of the 1.4-litre powerplant will be the 'bread and butter' engine of the Golf range in Australia.

New for Golf VI, the turbo 1.4 is rated at 90kW and produces 200Nm across a relatively wide torque band (1500-4000rpm). Matched to the new DSG, this engine is rated at 6.0L/100km also. With a six-speed manual gearbox it's 0.2L/100km thirstier, say VW's boffins.

Punching above its weight the DSG-equipped 1.4-litre turbo accelerates the Golf VI from zero to 100km/h in 9.5sec -- no rocketship but a reasonable number just the same. By way of comparison, the current 110kW/200Nm auto 2.0 FSI Golf takes the same time. It returns an ADR combined fuel number of 8.6L/100km, however.

It's worth noting the conventional auto will exit the Golf range along with the 'atmo' 2.0-litre. The only 'auto' offered in the Golf range going forward will be the DSG.

On the diesel side of the fence, the choice of 1.9 and 2.0-litre diesels currently offered by VW Australia will not continue.

The 1.9-litre engine exits the range with the arrival of Golf VI. The new 2.0-litre, meantime, is the Volkswagen Audi Group's latest common rail engine, as fitted to the Tiguan in 103kW guise. It will be matched to both six-speed DSG and conventional gearboxes.

A new common rail 1.6-litre turbodiesel is due to hit Europe in the second quarter of 2009. With 77kW, the new generation diesel will deliver a cost-effective replacement for the 1.9 entry level Golf diesel it already matches in output.

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