Who Killed The Twincharger?

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

VW’s 1.4 TSI “Twincharger” engine may well have been the most groundbreaking mass-market of the last 20 years, combining a supercharger and turbocharger to create a lag-free, forced-induction driving experience (a feat only Group B racers had previously attempted with any seriousness). Making either 120 HP or 158 HP in a Golf, the 1.4 TSI is rated on the Euro-cycle (non-EPA) at 6 liters per 100 km, or 39 MPG (please note, cross-cycle mileage comparisons are problematic). In the (smaller, lighter) 177 HP Polo GTI, it gets an even better 5.9l/100km. In short, it can be quite powerful, extremely efficient, and more importantly, it offers the flexibility to be tuned for a number of different applications. As a result, it won the International Engine Of The Year Award for 1.0-1.4 liter displacements four times running, and added “Best New Engine” in 2006, as well as “Green Engine Of The Year” and “International Engine Of The Year” in 2009.

And now, according to Autocar, the industry’s tortured tug-of-war between outstanding technical achievements and crushing profit-seeking grind will call the Twincharger its latest victim. The British mag reports

The company’s 1.4-litre engine, which mixes turbocharging and supercharging, is said to be too complex and expensive to produce.

Instead, VW engineers now believe that new turbocharging technology can achieve similar results at a much-reduced cost.

Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

More by Edward Niedermeyer

Comments
Join the conversation
8 of 51 comments
  • JMII JMII on Jan 20, 2011

    How much PSI does it generate, don't you reach a point of diminishing returns? Seriously how much boost (air) can one stuff into an engine before it blows up? A twincharger sounds like a good racing engine but overkill for a road car. As mentioned a good turbo works just fine. I've got a 1.8T VW Passat - 150hp / 160tq = 30 mpg. A CPU upgrade alone gives you north of 210hp: http://www.goapr.com/products/ecu_upgrade_passat18t.html

    • Mirko Reinhardt Mirko Reinhardt on Jan 20, 2011

      It's not about making more power - it's about reducing lag. The supercharger is only used at low rpms, when the turbo has it's weak spot.

  • Jaje Jaje on Jan 20, 2011

    I was hoping that this method would lead to the creation of a single unit twincharger (the turbo/super in the same unit). By repositioning the turbo on the intake side in line with the belt / chain from the crank to provide the supercharger effect at low rpms then with some variable gearing /clutch to disengage the super and switch over to a turbo at higher rpm. This should save costs of being able to do twin charging but it seems to require some ingenious engineering.

    • See 1 previous
    • Jaje Jaje on Jan 20, 2011

      You are right about the cat converter...but put on a higher flow unit so that the exhaust gasses going to the turbo are not too badly slowed down. You can also preheat the cat after the car is started to get it up to temp faster w/o relying on passive heat. The 944 Turbo had its turbo on the intake side with a crossover pipe running to it. It did get some heat soak issues but that is an '80's design. I have no training as an engineer but the idea seems to have potential.

  • Geggamoya Geggamoya on Jan 20, 2011

    The biggest problem with these engines has been the timing chain, it stretches and causes the engine to run poorly, and if not dealt with the engine will obviously be toast. Supposedly it has been updated at some point though. This is what a friend who works at a VW/Audi dealership told me. I've driven the Golf V TSI with the 170hp version of this engine. The 1.4TSI(122hp, no supercharger, just a turbo) in the Golf VI is more impressive though, considering the HP rating. And if it is indeed being phased out, it will takes years. Still used in at least the the Skoda Fabia, Seat Ibiza, VW Polo, Golf, Scirocco and Touran, and Audi A1, some of which have been introduced pretty recently.

    • Monaco Monaco on Jan 21, 2011

      Good point, Also Fusion above mentioned the A1. More details from Audi UK recently posted today on this site: http://www.fourtitude.com/news/publish/Audi_News/article_6549.shtml "As the supercharger takes care of low-range boost, it has been possible to use a larger turbocharger designed with optimum efficiency in mind, and this is reflected in the impressively strong combined cycle fuel economy and low emissions."

  • Wgmleslie Wgmleslie on Jan 20, 2011

    My P-38 Lightning does just fine with this setup...

Next