New spy shots of a China-specced VW Flagship, based on the Passat for the US market, reveal a new style of engine badging for the company.
The pictures are of a 220bhp 2.0-litre TSI model, but the rear of the car shows a 380 TSI badge, while the 150bhp 1.4-litre TSI and 160bhp 1.8-litre TSI are expected to get 280 TSI and 330 TSI badging respectively. The nomenclature most likely indicates the torque value. In December last year Volkswagen Group Malaysia (VGM) managing director, Armin Keller, indicated that Volkswagen will adopt a new torque-based naming system for Asian market as quoted by this website.
Whether this new naming standard will come to India, or if it will be used for VW’s diesel engines are not confirmed yet. However, such a move could help disassociate the cars from the controversial engines embroiled in the dieselgate scandal.
Audi implemented a similar nomenclature for its TDI engines in 2014, which saw the 2.0-litre TDI engine in the A3 change its badge to 35 TDI. According to Audi, this alteration was executed as engines with the same displacement could have different power outputs but the regular naming system didn’t allow for this differentiation. The new name is calculated using the level of G-force created under acceleration; the bigger the number the faster the car.
The new naming system was first seen in China before coming to India, and it is safe to expect VW to make a similar transition with its cars for the market here.
Doug Revolta