VW Develops Turbocharged and Supercharged Engine for Mass Consumption

Since When Could Any 1.4-Litre Production Piston Engine Make 170-Horsepower?

First, there was TDI, Volkswagen's version of turbo diesel injection. Over the decades it has become what might now be the world's best-known diesel

And now for something completely different... TSI. The world's first "Twincharger" enhanced engine. A powerplant that's both turbocharged and supercharged! (Photo: Volkswagen Canada)

engine lineup, a trademark name for some of the world's most advanced and most powerful diesel engines.

Then, not four years ago, VW introduced another three-letter acronym, FSI, which stands for Fuel Stratification Injection, VAG's version of direct-gasoline injection. The technology that fuels common-rail turbodiesel engines has been adapted for gasoline use, injecting a fine mist of gasoline directly into the combustion chamber to promote better combustion. Compared to traditional fuel injection, FSI engines generally make 10 percent more power, while using 10 percent less fuel. FSI technology proved itself in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, helping Audi's R8R racers take 1st, 2nd and 3rd place sweeps three years in a row.

And now for something completely different... TSI. The world's first "Twincharger" enhanced engine. A powerplant that's both turbocharged and supercharged!

It has long been thought that when considering forced aspiration, a motor

Turbochargers are often used to get maximum potential out of small displacement engines. (Photo: Volkswagen Canada)

could have either a turbocharger or a supercharger. Turbochargers are often used to get maximum potential out of small displacement engines. They're also relatively inexpensive, especially if compared to the cost of developing an all-new naturally aspirated engine with similar performance. However, as they rely on the engine's exhaust gasses to produce boost, turbochargers often succumb to lag, the annoying 'pause' felt while waiting for the turbo to spool up to optimum boost. While this has since been solved by low pressure turbos or twin-turbos that couple a small, low-boost, lag-free turbo to get the motor up to speed before switching over to a large, high-boost turbo for maximum power.