VW cylinder shutdown for 2012
Volkswagen has announced it will introduce cylinder deactivation in its upcoming 1.4-litre TSI engine in 2012While the technology isn’t new – Holden and Chrysler use it in their V8s, Honda in its Accord V6 – this is the first time it’s come to a volume engine this small.
Cylinder shutdown systems use torque sensors to switch off part of the engine under light load. In the case of Volkswagen’s little direct-injection turbocharged four, the system switches off cylinders 2 and 3 under the right conditions (between 1400 and 4000rpm) with torque output in a band from 25-75Nm.
The company says the engine sits in that band for about 70 per cent of the driving distance it covers in the EU fuel economy driving cycle. When anything threatens to pull it out of that band – for example an uphill stretch or just a decent press on the accelerator – the sensors reactivate the passive cylinders.
The technology is already well proven for its capacity to cut fuel consumption and emissions under small to medium loads. Volkswagen claims its system consumption 0.4L/100km. The engine’s auto stop/start boosts this to 0.6L/100km.
The system delivers maximum benefit at steady, moderate speeds. For example, VW claims the fuel savings rise to about 1.0L/100km at 50km/h in third or fourth gear – and with little adverse effect in NVH.
Though the technology will appear next year (2012), it won’t debut as standard fixture. Volkswagen Australia spokesman, Karl Gehling saying the local arm has no plans to introduce it in local Golf, Jetta and Passat models using the 1.4 TSI engine.
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