Volkswagen VW Beetle Turbo and Jetta GLI Get Power Increase

Volkswagen says its Beetle Turbo, Beetle Turbo Convertible, and Jetta GLI will receive a number of changes to 2013 model year cars that go on sale in May 2013. It says the biggest news is the use of a new version of the award-winning EA888 2.0-liter turbocharged and direct-injected TSI® engine.

The new build EA888 makes 210 horsepower, an increase of 10 hp over the previous Gen 2 TSI engine, says VW. Peak power is generated 200 revs higher in the engine range, at 5300 rpm, and torque remains unchanged at 207 pound-feet. Thus equipped, the Beetle Turbo coupe takes 6.6 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph, 0.2 seconds less than the previous version: At 6.7 seconds, the Jetta GLI is a tenth faster with the manual transmission and two tenths quicker with the DSG® dual-clutch automatic than the cars equipped with the Gen 2 engine.

As well as providing more performance, the new engine also gives a manufacturer-estimated improvement in fuel efficiency for the Beetle models of between four and eight percent on the combined cycle and by up to nine percent on the city cycle.

The EA888 Gen 3 engine is designed to be lighter and more fuel efficient than the unit it replaces. Engine weight has been reduced by eight pounds, to 290 pounds overall. Among the improvements on this engine are: a thinwall crankcase casting; exhaust headers that are integrated into the cylinder head; smaller diameter main bearings; roller bearings for the twin balancer shafts; and a crankshaft that has four counterweights instead of eight.

Beetle Turbo R-Line Model
The Beetle Turbo R-Line model, which is also fitted with the new 210-hp engine, appears in dealerships at the same time, replacing the Beetle Turbo with Sunroof, Sound, and Navigation. Externally, the R-Line model is differentiated by the more aggressive front and rear bumpers, 19-inch “Tornado” aluminum-alloy wheels, R-Line badging, and Bi-Xenon headlights with LED DRLs.