Audi reveals 'rightsized' 2.0 TFSI engine for next A4
Thu, May 7 2015
Revealed at the Vienna Motor Symposium in Austria is Audi's newest trick powertrain. Where others are going with smaller engines, Ingolstadt's latest displaces a nice round 2.0 liters, employing a shorter intake time to use less fuel. It's sort of like the Miller cycle that Mazda brought to market on the old Millenia, only turbocharged (instead of supercharged) and brought up to date.
Audi calls the four-pot "rightsized," producing 190 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque across a broad rev range, while getting 47 miles to the gallon – and that's on the US cycle, which is tougher than the European standard a company like Audi would usually quote. In short, it's designed to provide power where needed but only sip at the fuel tank when it's not, but the geekiest among us will want to delve into all the intricacies outlined in the announcement below.
The engine is set to power the next-generation A4 before being rolled out in additional models in the future.
Ingolstadt/Vienna, 2015-05-07
World premiere at the Vienna Motor Symposium: new high-efficiency engine from Audi
- New 2.0 TFSI four-cylinder engine with innovative combustion method
- Top figures: 190 hp, 320 Nm (236.0 lb-ft), less than 5 l/100 km (47.0 US mpg)
- To be implemented in the new Audi A4 by the end of 2015
- Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg: "A prime example of the Audi rightsizing strategy"
Audi presents the most efficient two-liter gasoline engine in its class. The new 2.0 TFSI with 140 kW (190 hp) demonstrates the engine expertise of the brand – with a ground-breaking new combustion method. Audi will be using the engine for the first time in the next generation of the A4.
Over ten years ago, Audi was the first manufacturer worldwide to bring the TFSI engine with turbocharging and direct injection into series production. This made the brand with the four rings the trendsetter in downsizing and downspeeding. "We're now taking a crucial step further with rightsizing," said Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Board of Management for Technical Development at AUDI AG. The reduction in displacement and engine speed can be optimally effective only if reasonably related to the vehicle class and the customers' everyday use, explains the Technical Director. "Rightsizing thus involves the optimal interplay of vehicle class, displacement, output, torque and efficiency characteristics under everyday conditions. Our new 2.0 TFSI is a prime example of Vorsprung durch Technik."
The four-cylinder engine draws 140 kW (190 hp) of power and 320 Nm (236.0 lb-ft) of torque from a displacement of 1,984 cc. Because the high torque is applied in a wide speed range of 1,450 to 4,400 rpm, every customer will benefit from the constantly accessible, high pulling power of the engine. The engine also boasts of groundbreaking low fuel consumption levels. With consumption levels less than 5.0 l/100 km (47.0 US mpg) in the NEDC, the four-cylinder engine clearly undercuts its predecessor and comparable competitors.
Technology in detail:
The breakthrough of the 2.0 TFSI lies in a new combustion method. At its core its principle is comparable to the Miller cycle. Audi engineers have further developed that method in crucial ways, however. The increase in efficiency is based on the following factors:
- The intake time has been significantly shortened (140° crank angle (CA) rather than 190 to 200° CA).
- Owing to a higher boost pressure on the inlet side, the engine attains optimal cylinder charges despite the shorter intake time.
- The intake valve also closes earlier – well before the bottom dead center is reached. This lowers the medium pressure, allowing a high, efficiency-boosting compression ratio.
- In the partial load range, an additional injection upstream from the intake valve yields an efficient mixture formation that is already complemented by the direct injection in the intake manifold and in the combustion chamber.
- The Audi Valvelift System (AVS) on the inlet side allows a short intake time at partial load and a longer time at higher loads (full load: 170° CA).
Dr. Stefan Knirsch, Head of Engine Development at Audi, sums up the benefits of the new engine: "Thanks to this rightsizing approach, the new engine enjoys the consumption benefits of a downsizing engine in partial load operation, while at higher loads it has the advantages of a large-displacement engine. The result is optimal efficiency and performance characteristics across the entire engine speed range."
Beyond the new combustion method, the new engine, with a weight of only about 140 kg (308.6 lb), avails itself of other efficiency technologies. For example, the coolant flow is controlled so as to greatly shorten the engine warm-up time. Contributing to this benefit is also the exhaust manifold, integrated in the cylinder head. The consistent reduction of friction as well as the use of low-friction engine oil (0W-20) also increases efficiency.
The comprehensive package of high-tech solutions makes the new 2.0 TFSI a real high-efficiency engine that sets a new benchmark in its segment. Audi will be introducing the new generation of engines first in the new Audi A4, and then in other model series.
World premiere at the Vienna Motor Symposium: new high-efficiency engine from Audi
- New 2.0 TFSI four-cylinder engine with innovative combustion method
- Top figures: 190 hp, 320 Nm (236.0 lb-ft), less than 5 l/100 km (47.0 US mpg)
- To be implemented in the new Audi A4 by the end of 2015
- Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg: "A prime example of the Audi rightsizing strategy"
Audi presents the most efficient two-liter gasoline engine in its class. The new 2.0 TFSI with 140 kW (190 hp) demonstrates the engine expertise of the brand – with a ground-breaking new combustion method. Audi will be using the engine for the first time in the next generation of the A4.
Over ten years ago, Audi was the first manufacturer worldwide to bring the TFSI engine with turbocharging and direct injection into series production. This made the brand with the four rings the trendsetter in downsizing and downspeeding. "We're now taking a crucial step further with rightsizing," said Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Board of Management for Technical Development at AUDI AG. The reduction in displacement and engine speed can be optimally effective only if reasonably related to the vehicle class and the customers' everyday use, explains the Technical Director. "Rightsizing thus involves the optimal interplay of vehicle class, displacement, output, torque and efficiency characteristics under everyday conditions. Our new 2.0 TFSI is a prime example of Vorsprung durch Technik."
The four-cylinder engine draws 140 kW (190 hp) of power and 320 Nm (236.0 lb-ft) of torque from a displacement of 1,984 cc. Because the high torque is applied in a wide speed range of 1,450 to 4,400 rpm, every customer will benefit from the constantly accessible, high pulling power of the engine. The engine also boasts of groundbreaking low fuel consumption levels. With consumption levels less than 5.0 l/100 km (47.0 US mpg) in the NEDC, the four-cylinder engine clearly undercuts its predecessor and comparable competitors.
Technology in detail:
The breakthrough of the 2.0 TFSI lies in a new combustion method. At its core its principle is comparable to the Miller cycle. Audi engineers have further developed that method in crucial ways, however. The increase in efficiency is based on the following factors:
- The intake time has been significantly shortened (140° crank angle (CA) rather than 190 to 200° CA).
- Owing to a higher boost pressure on the inlet side, the engine attains optimal cylinder charges despite the shorter intake time.
- The intake valve also closes earlier – well before the bottom dead center is reached. This lowers the medium pressure, allowing a high, efficiency-boosting compression ratio.
- In the partial load range, an additional injection upstream from the intake valve yields an efficient mixture formation that is already complemented by the direct injection in the intake manifold and in the combustion chamber.
- The Audi Valvelift System (AVS) on the inlet side allows a short intake time at partial load and a longer time at higher loads (full load: 170° CA).
Dr. Stefan Knirsch, Head of Engine Development at Audi, sums up the benefits of the new engine: "Thanks to this rightsizing approach, the new engine enjoys the consumption benefits of a downsizing engine in partial load operation, while at higher loads it has the advantages of a large-displacement engine. The result is optimal efficiency and performance characteristics across the entire engine speed range."
Beyond the new combustion method, the new engine, with a weight of only about 140 kg (308.6 lb), avails itself of other efficiency technologies. For example, the coolant flow is controlled so as to greatly shorten the engine warm-up time. Contributing to this benefit is also the exhaust manifold, integrated in the cylinder head. The consistent reduction of friction as well as the use of low-friction engine oil (0W-20) also increases efficiency.
The comprehensive package of high-tech solutions makes the new 2.0 TFSI a real high-efficiency engine that sets a new benchmark in its segment. Audi will be introducing the new generation of engines first in the new Audi A4, and then in other model series.
By Noah Joseph
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