autos sport

German carmaker Volkswagen has began replacing its 1.6-litre FSI petrol engine (115 Hp & 114 lbs-ft of torque) with the new 1.4-litre TSI unit (122 Hp & 155 lbs-ft of torque) across the Golf, Golf Plus, Golf Variant, Jetta, Eos and Passat and Passat Variant models. The 122 Hp engine is based on the 140 & 170 Hp 1.4-litre TSI units but instead of combining a supercharger and a turbocharger the new unit uses simply a turbocharger. -Continued after the jump

The 122 Hp 1.4 TSI unit (already available in Audi A3 and Seat Leon models), can be combined with a choice of six-speed manual or the all-new seven-speed DSG twin-clutch gearbox. According to VW, the new engine not only produces more power and torque than the 1.6 FSI unit, but it also offers reduced fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions.

In the UK, VW announced today that all 1.6 FSI powered models will be replaced with the 1.4 TSI unit that will carry a retail premium of around £150 ($307 or €215) over the current 1.6-litre FSI. In the Passat Saloon and Estate models the premium rises to £175 ($359 or €251) for, where the moderate price rise includes the addition of an autohold function for the parking brake which was previously a £50 option.

A full list of retail prices for the new TSI 122 PS models in UK follows:

* available from early 2008