Photo: Volkswagen
In the 2000s, Volkswagen Group thought variation is the key to success in the hot hatch supermini market. And so, the Skoda Fabia vRS had a 1.9 TDI diesel engine with about 130 hp, while VW's Polo GTI offered a big 1.8 TSI with 150 hp. None of them were particularly well received, which prompted engineers to put all their eggs into one really good basket.
And so, the Fabia vRS, Polo GTI and soon after the SEAT Ibiza Cura all came with the powerful new 1.4 TSI twincharger engine, which used a supercharger and turbocharger in conjunction to seamlessly offer 180 hp only through a DSG gearbox.
It seems that this was not the right way either. Skoda's Fabia vRS has failed to produce the kind of numbers expected, so it's being canceled, while the Polo GTI and presumably the Ibiza are switching engines.
A report from Chinese website auto.ifeng.com suggests a new Polo GTI is coming in 2015 and will switch from 1.4 to a bigger 1.8-liter TSI. We're talking about the new unit from the EA888 engine family and already offered on the Audi A3 or VW Golf and SEAT Leon FR, where it produces 180 hp and 250 Nm of torque.
A bigger engine that doesn't give you more power? Strange as it might sound, this doesn't surprise us at all. Back in October, we had a similar idea about the future of the smallest GTI. Reports of the twincharger's demise have been rampant due to problems with reliability and retuning the unit for new emissions regulations.
The bigger engine won't necessarily add more weight or undermine fuel economy, so it's not a bad idea. Other things about the Polo GTI, like the red accents or specific wheel design, will remain true to form, keeping fans happy.
It seems that this was not the right way either. Skoda's Fabia vRS has failed to produce the kind of numbers expected, so it's being canceled, while the Polo GTI and presumably the Ibiza are switching engines.
A report from Chinese website auto.ifeng.com suggests a new Polo GTI is coming in 2015 and will switch from 1.4 to a bigger 1.8-liter TSI. We're talking about the new unit from the EA888 engine family and already offered on the Audi A3 or VW Golf and SEAT Leon FR, where it produces 180 hp and 250 Nm of torque.
A bigger engine that doesn't give you more power? Strange as it might sound, this doesn't surprise us at all. Back in October, we had a similar idea about the future of the smallest GTI. Reports of the twincharger's demise have been rampant due to problems with reliability and retuning the unit for new emissions regulations.
The bigger engine won't necessarily add more weight or undermine fuel economy, so it's not a bad idea. Other things about the Polo GTI, like the red accents or specific wheel design, will remain true to form, keeping fans happy.
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