Volkswagen’s New Technologies

Volkswagen recently presented some future technologies that will go into their cars. One of them is a new version of their diesel engine.

Using the engine that was unveiled in the European Passat as a base, the engineers then installed an electric supercharger like the one found on Volvo’s recently-unveiled powerplant. While electric supercharging technology may have been laughed at in the past, it seems that it now has real benefits, since the little 2-litre diesel mill equipped with it makes 272 horsepower. Torque figures have not been revealed, but will probably be higher than the regular engine, which makes 240 horsepower and 370 pound-feet of torque.

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In addition to this supercharger, a slew of technologies are used, from a new variable valve-timing system to a common-rail injector that shoots fuel at pressures exceeding 2500 bar.

VW is also working on a new DSG gearbox. Capable of handling up to 405 pound-feet of torque, it will also mark the manufacturer’s entry into the 10-speed club. Its design is based on the 6-speed unit, and it should help many cars' fuel economy.

Finally, the manufacturer is also developing an intelligent navigation system. It is supposedly capable of memorizing the routes that you often take (like your morning commute, or the road to your mistress’s apartment…) and can inform you about the road conditions ahead of you if it detects that you are going to run into a traffic jam. It will also suggest an alternate path.

For now, there are no production dates for these technologies, but they show that Volkswagen wants to stay on the forefront of technical advancements.