Volkswagen 1.8L Turbo Four Replacing 2.5L Five

Volkswagen will begin phasing out its 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine with the 2014 model year, the company announced today.

The engine will gradually take the place of the larger five-mill in VW’s Jetta, Bettle and Passat vehicles to offer the same power as the five-cylinder while offering 185 lb-ft of torque, which is a seven lb-ft improvement. Apart from upping the twist, VW also says the engine change will help improve fuel economy. Specifically, it expects a 16 percent improvement for the Jetta SE and SEL models, both of which will get the turbo four.

Gradual integration of the engine will see the entire Jetta lineup adopt it along with the SEL-trimmed Passat. Both the Beetle and remainder of the Passat line will follow later in the model year.

The decision to adopt the turbocharged engine across the Bettle line will mean that current Beetle turbos will now wear the R Line badge. Volkswagen will also offer the limited-run Beetle GSR first seen at the Chicago Auto Show in february and pictured above.

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