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Volkswagen's brightest minds have seen fit to build a four-cylinder diesel engine producing a heady 268bhp. That's right, a four-cylinder diesel producing similar power to the upcoming Civic Type R.
This is progress that Top Gear rather likes. The engine was showcased at Volkswagen's recent ‘innovation workshop', and is based on the 236bhp TDI engine used for the new Passat (pictured).
With the addition of a variable valve train, further optimised gas exchange cycles and an electric booster, power for this SuperDiesel went into more agreeable territory.
It forms part of a range of measures that VW would like to introduce in order to become the world's most sustainable carmaker by the year 2018, reducing energy and water consumption, waste generation and CO2 emissions by 25 per cent across the board.
It's the reason why a ten speed DSG gearbox has been built. Yep. Ten. Speed. DSG. Any more and you'd forget what to do with your hands. The new gearbox is said to handle torque forces of up to 405lb ft, and of course lower CO2 emissions at the same time.
"The reasons are obvious," assures VW. "No other automatic shifts faster, and no other automatic operates more fuel-efficiently."
Other innovations include a wider scope for start/stop engines - for example, switching the engine off while coasting - better lightweight design taking inspiration from motorsport, an oxide-film for glass sunroofs to block radiation, and better networking.
"Today, the hunt for every gram of CO2, every drop of fuel, every kilowatt of power that can be saved is one of the key challenges faced by the automotive industry," says VW. "The objective is to drive into the future more sustainably than ever."
Seems VW is rather adept at squeezing monster power from a 2.0-litre four-pot engine: witness the 395bhp Golf R400. A car that can post a 0-62mph time of 3.9 seconds and top speed of 174mph. Yep, 174mph in a GOLF.
Written By:- Vijay Pattni
More of this article on the Top gear website
