VW Mulls Improved 4-Cylinder Engine for U.S.

Volkswagen AG is developing a more powerful version of its 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder Evo engine that may be offered in the U.S.

The fuel-efficient engine, which operates on the Miller combustion cycle, could be used in a range of small cars in the U.S., Wolfgang Demmelbauer-Ebner, executive vice president and chief engineering officer for VW’s North American Region, tells reporters. But he says the engine will need to be tweaked for more power to be approved for the American market. 

The latest variant of the engine generates 147 hp and is rated at 48 mpg on the European test cycle.

A Miller engine—a variant of the Atkinson powerplant—closes the intake valve later than usual to boost the power stroke and efficiency. The Evo also benefits from the use of direct injection, cylinder deactivation and a variable-geometry turbocharger. Plasma-coated cylinder liners help reduce friction.

Demmelbauer-Ebner claims the combination provides benefits similar to those of next-generation variable-compression-ratio (VCR) engines but at a much lower cost. Nissan Motor Co.’s Infiniti arm launched the industry’s first VCR engine last year in the company’s QX50 crossover vehicle.

In Europe, the Evo four-banger is offered in VW’s Golf, Passat, Polo, Tiguan and T-Roc models.