The VW TSI engine
On variable compression ratios for the engine:
Audi Technical chief Ulrich Hackenberg gave no details on how Audi will introduce variable compression ratio technology, but what this means is that the car's engine can have a high compression ratio of a direct injected petrol engine of around 15:1 and when under high loads especially if it is turbocharged and boost is coming on drops to say 11:1. The luxury of being able to have variable compression ratio depending on the load and power demands makes this something all engineers chase after. It would be ultra efficient too.
On electrically assisted forced induction:
Much like installing a high speed electric motor to the intake of the car (like some after market products so) but this has gotten the interest of VW/Audi that allows for less heat build-up and other losses associated with conventional forced induction. The benefits is that an electric motor operated turbine can be activated from a standstill, as well as the small size may suit future small engines of two or three cylinders Of course, we've seen that even small fans turning up to 100,000rpm may not be useful when installed by after market manufacturers. It is probably achievable if a large automotive company like VW Group that does the research. They would have the funds to make it work.
On Coasting technology:
Coasting technology has significant fuel-saving potential as it frees up the transmission when not under any load, like going down hill or coming to a halt at a junction. It is planned to be fully integrated into most VW Group cars and would arrive in four stages. The first level already features on some of VW Group's DSG dual-clutch transmissions. The next version expected to function when the car is travelling below 6.5kmh. The final one will see the transmission disengaging and the engine shutting down when cruising at speed (start-stop at speed!!!!), travelling downhill or approaching traffic lights that are about to turn red.
Now whilst all of these combined have the potential to hugely improve the real-world economy of future petrol engines, I have that worrysome feeling that VW Group may implement this sooner than it may be practical to do so (like the twin-charged supercharger/turbocharger engine and problems faced by some dry clutch DSG equipped cars) and that customers will be part test guinea pigs.
Please, please please take your sweet time VW/Audi, don't listen to those eco-mentalist lobbyists that want things to be done yesterday and not tomorrow. Aside from saving the trees, whales, gibbons, the penguins of Madagascar and the cute but not cuddly polar bears, real world consumers (and not eco-mentalists) would like to save some money in their wallets and bank accounts.
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