Volkswagen has added a new petrol engine to the Golf line-up, said to offer fuel efficiency equivalent to a diesel engine.

The new engine brings up to a 10% improvement in fuel efficiency compared to equivalent petrols.

The 130hp 1.5-litre TSI ACT BlueMotion combines variable turbocharging, as used in high-performance sports cars, with cylinder deactivation technology and a modified combustion cycle to bring fuel consumption said to be 10% more efficient than comparable petrol engines.

Versions equipped with the dual-clutch automatic transmission can decouple and shut down the engine completely when it’s not under load, saving more fuel. On-board systems are supplied by an upgraded 12-volt electrical system, featuring a lithium-ion battery.

The result is an official NEDC combined fuel consumption in the Golf of 4.8 l/100 km (58.9mpg), rising to over 70mpg on the extra-urban cycle (for manual versions). The engine is also being added to the Golf Estate and will be rolled out on other Volkswagen models in the future.

Volkswagen added that it’s also looking at adapting the engine with fewer cylinders, smaller engine displacements and significantly greater power as well as exploring mild, full and plug-in hybrid drive systems and natural gas engines.

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