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A standard fitment on diesel cars, proven to reduce harmful NOx emissions, particulate filters will be fitted to petrol-engined Volkswagens from 2017, the company has announced. It claims that emissions of soot particles from direct injection petrol engines can be cut by up to 90 per cent. The ‘gasoline particulate filters’ (GPF) will be employed on Volkswagen Group cars powered by TSI and TFSI drivetrains.

The first model fitted with the new technology will be the 1.4-litre TSI derivative of the Tiguan*, due to arrive in June 2017. The Volkswagen Group predicts that up to 7 million vehicles could use the technology by 2022, which includes the new, sixth-generation Polo which will be introduced sometime next year and feature myriad turbocharged petrol and diesel engines.

‘Sustained reduction in emissions’
Dr Ulrich Eichhorn, Head of Group Research and Development said: ‘Following increases in efficiency and lower CO2 output, we are now bringing about a sustained reduction in the emission levels of our modern petrol engines by fitting particulate filters as standard.’

Even though exhaust gas treatment systems can be costly, diesel engine emissions will still be worked on, too, especially in light of the ‘Dieselgate’ crisis which was first discovered in September 2015. ‘In the future, all models will be equipped with the latest and most efficient Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) catalytic converter technology,’ stated Eichhorn.

Related to the recent announcement, independent testing body Emission Analytics rated the Volkswagen Group the cleanest performer in its EQUA Air Quality Index. Comparative measurements were used, and the Volkswagen Group was ranked first in three categories: EU 6 petrol engine, EU 5 petrol engine and EU 6 hybrid vehicles.

*Tiguan 1.4 TSI fuel consumption in l/100km: 6.9-5.7 (combined); CO2 emissions in g/km: 155-139 (combined); Efficiency class: C-B.

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At the recent 36th International Vienna Motor Symposium conference in Austria, Volkswagen announced details of a range of new engines including updated versions of the 1.0-litre TSI unit found in the current fifth-generation Polo 6C.

A high-performance 270bhp version of the three-cylinder ‘EA211’ engine with 200lb ft (270Nm) of torque was also unveiled, which Volkswagen says has ‘the genes of the Polo R WRC’s rally engine’. Which would be nice!

Friedrich Eichler, Head of Powertrain Development told delegates that the super-powerful 1.0-litre TSI unit was fitted with a monoscroll turbocharger and an ‘e-booster’ electric compressor to generate the high power output.

Less exotically, Volkswagen also confirmed that the new 1.0-litre TSI will be available in 94bhp (118lb ft/160Nm of torque) as well as 108bhp (148lb ft/200Nm of torque) power outputs – the former powers the current UK-market Polo BlueMotion. A CNG version of the small displacement unit will also be available in due course.

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In the latest issue of Volkswagen’s online magazine Das Auto, the company states that it’s not hard to lose your bearings in a big city like Barcelona. Which is why a New Polo is ideal – it offers more driver assistance systems than any other car in its class, don’t you know? If news of these technological innovations comes as a surprise, here’s a quick recap.

Front Assist
Front Assist is an optional traffic monitoring system from Volkswagen. It constantly measures the distance of other vehicles ahead via a radar sensor mounted on the front of the car. It detects critically reduced gaps and warns you of possible collisions.

It will automatically initiate a partial braking action if it detects no driver reaction, and will increase the braking pressure if the driver doesn’t brake hard enough. At low speeds (under 19mph) the integrated City Emergency Braking function helps you respond effectively to sudden situations.

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
ACC measures the distance to the vehicle in front of you, adjusts your speed and maintains a preset distance. It does not exceed the speed you enter in the cruise control system.

Parking Assist / Rear Assist rear-view camera
The New Polo’s parking sensors make parallel parking easier with its audible warning beeps and graphic on the infotainment display. The Rear Assist rear-view camera superimposes guidelines over the camera image, with different colours depending on the distance.

Driver Alert System
If you’re tired, the New Polo’s Driver Alert System will recommend that you take a break. It can recognise fatigue and the resulting decline in attentiveness by continuously evaluating driving characteristics above a speed of 40mph. (That truly is witchcraft!)

Electronic Stability Control
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) prepares you for all sorts of slippery driving scenarios by detecting critical driving situations and preventing the car from fishtailing.

Check out the New Polo’s driver assistance systems in more comprehensive detail at Volkswagen’s special technologies website.

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At the recent ‘Engine of the Year’ awards, Volkswagen’s TSI petrol engine claimed a prize for the seventh consecutive year in the 1.0-1.4-litre category. The company also received the ‘Best New Engine’ award for its TSI unit with active cylinder management (ACT), that powers (among other cars) the Polo BlueGT. The ‘Engine of the Year’ awards recognise the best engine development of the past 12 months. Active cylinder management made its debut in the 1.4 TSI Polo and Golf models with 103kW/138bhp. Temporary shut-off of the second and third cylinders – in conjunction with an economical style of driving – reduces fuel consumption by up to 0.4 litres per 100km in the EU driving cycle. 

At a constant 30mph, the savings can be as much as 1 litre per 100km, and even at 44mph in fifth gear, around 0.7 litres per 100km can be saved. Volkswagen states that cylinder deactivation occurs at engine speeds of between 1400 and 4000rpm, and at torque outputs of 25 to 100Nm (18 to 74lbs ft). If the driver presses the accelerator pedal, the two cylinders are imperceptibly reactivated. All mechanical switchovers occur within 13 to 36 milliseconds, depending on engine speed. The multifunction display in the Polo BlueGT’s instrument binnacle lets the driver know when the pair of cylinders are deactivated. The Polo BlueGT range starts at £17,535 for the three-door car.

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As journalists drive the new Polo BlueGT, Volkswagen UK has confirmed availability on the UK market, and released some further details about the car. The Polo BlueGT is coming to the UK, with the order books opening in September. UK deliveries are expected to start by the end of 2012, while prices are projected to begin at £17,500 for the three-door model. The Polo BlueGT borrows the Polo GTI’s rear spoiler, rear bumper, front bumper, and black interior roof lining, while the Polo BlueMotion lends its side sills and windscreen rain channels. The new eco-performance Polo also features a black-painted front grille, black door mirror caps and 17″ ‘Montani’ alloy wheels. The fuel-saving four cylinder EA211 1.4 engine with deactivation technology will become one of the cornerstones of the new MQB platform. Read all about this exciting new chapter in the Polo’s history by clicking our ‘Polo BlueGT’ category tab.

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