Volkswagen to replace 2.5 liter unit in U.S. with 1.8 TSI

Car & Driver is reporting that Volkswagen has decided to replace its aging 2.5 liter inline five-cylinder in the U.S. market with its 1.8 TSI unit.

Volkswagen uses the 2.5 liter unit for the entry-level Jetta and Passat variants where it produces 170 hp (127 kW / 172 PS) and 177 lb-ft (240 Nm) of torque. The naturally-aspirated engine doesn't have direct-injection and its fuel-economy is not better than the 2.0 liter TSI unit that Volkswagen also offers in the Jetta with 30 more horsepower. 

The 1.8 TSI unit is used in Europe in several Audi and VW models including the euro-spec Passat. In those European models it is configured to deliver 160 PS (118 kW / 158 hp) and 250 Nm (185 lb-ft) of torque.

The move shows that VW will bring its North American engine offerings in line with its European lineup where it is going almost exclusively with small displacement, direct-injection/turbocharged units such as the 1.4 TSI, 1.8 TSI and the 2.0 TSI.