The word ‘diesel’ is probably taboo at Volkswagen,
and for good reasons, as the cheating emissions scandal is still fresh.
However, the automaker won’t let oil burners die just yet. In fact, they have
presented their first-ever 2.0-liter TDI with a mild hybrid system. Detailed
during the Vienna Motor Symposium, the powertrain will eventually make it into
series production.
The EA288 Evo, has a 12V belt
starter-generator and a lithium-ion battery. This “reduces fuel consumption and
increases comfort”, according to Volkswagen, which adds that the SCR components
and diesel particulate filter have been re-dimensioned and improved. Also, the
turbocharger now responds quicker, but, more importantly, the CO2 emissions
have dropped by up to 10 g/km compared to the previous generation.
Volkswagen hasn’t cut down on power; in fact, this
has increased by up to 9 percent. The output of the mild hybrid 2.0 TDI ranges
between 136 PS and 204 PS. And that’s not all,
because engineers managed to reduce frictional and heat losses and to shave
some weight from the engine.
Audi will be the first brand within the Volkswagen
Group to get the reworked four-cylinder diesel. The automaker will use it in
vehicles with longitudinally installed drivetrains, but it will eventually be
adopted by other brands and be mounted transversely in some models underpinned
by the MQB platform.
Volkswagen talked about the 48V mild hybrid system
that will be implemented into the Golf Mk8, which is supposed to improve fuel
consumption and emissions while “offering extra dynamism and comfort with an
electric boost function and exceptional drive performance”.
