A high-powered Volkswagen 2-litre diesel engine with electric turbocharger has been unveiled during a technical presentation held at home in Wolfsburg, Germany.

New Volkswagen 2-litre diesel engine showcased in Germany

Based on the existing EA288 diesel unit used across the Volkswagen line-up, the new engine, enhanced with a new two-stage electricity operated turbocharger, is claimed to deliver a 14 percent improvement in power (200 kW) and economy over the most powerful variant of the company’s diesel unit with 176 kW and is currently fitted in the recently unveiled Volkswagen Passat.

The increase in power was also made possible by installing a new variable valve timing system and a Piezo common rail injection system working at pressures of up to 2500 bar. Volkswagen is yet to release any info on the torque figure of the new engine but rumour has it that it might be comparable to the Passat’s 500 Nm.

The engine is also said to be fitted in Volkswagen’s larger models, including the production version of the CrossBlue concept.

In addition to the new engine, Volkswagen has provided minor details on its upcoming ten-speed transmission which is said to gradually replace the current six-speed DSG from 2016.

The new transmission will work with both transverse and longitudinal engine layouts, and will feature a coasting function to save fuel along with a new brake energy recuperation system which promises to be more efficient than before. The stop-start system has also been re-engineered so that it stops at 7 km/h instead of waiting for the full stop.