PoloDriver

At the recent ‘Engine of the Year’ awards, Volkswagen’s TSI petrol engine claimed a prize for the seventh consecutive year in the 1.0-1.4-litre category. The company also received the ‘Best New Engine’ award for its TSI unit with active cylinder management (ACT), that powers (among other cars) the Polo BlueGT. The ‘Engine of the Year’ awards recognise the best engine development of the past 12 months. Active cylinder management made its debut in the 1.4 TSI Polo and Golf models with 103kW/138bhp. Temporary shut-off of the second and third cylinders – in conjunction with an economical style of driving – reduces fuel consumption by up to 0.4 litres per 100km in the EU driving cycle. 

At a constant 30mph, the savings can be as much as 1 litre per 100km, and even at 44mph in fifth gear, around 0.7 litres per 100km can be saved. Volkswagen states that cylinder deactivation occurs at engine speeds of between 1400 and 4000rpm, and at torque outputs of 25 to 100Nm (18 to 74lbs ft). If the driver presses the accelerator pedal, the two cylinders are imperceptibly reactivated. All mechanical switchovers occur within 13 to 36 milliseconds, depending on engine speed. The multifunction display in the Polo BlueGT’s instrument binnacle lets the driver know when the pair of cylinders are deactivated. The Polo BlueGT range starts at £17,535 for the three-door car.