Volkswagen asks Škoda to Develop Next Gen Small ICE Powertrains

Paul Myles

TU-Editor

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11th May 2023

Volkswagen Group has chosen its Czech brand, Škoda, to develop the latest incarnation of the sub-2.0-liter EA 211 internal combustion engine.

The decision, a feature in the cap for the brand’s mechanical engineers, means that the results of its toils will be housed in 50 models across seven brands within the group. So far, Škoda has mainly developed naturally aspirated MPI engines of this series but now it will also take responsibility for the development of turbo-charged TSI units.

The brand’s engine development tradition in Mladá Boleslav stretches back well over a century. The history of the development and production of ICE powertrains in the town dates back to 1899, when the forebears of the brand, Václav Laurin and Václav Klement, built their first bicycle fitted with an auxiliary engine. As early as 1905, Laurin & Klement presented its first car, the Voiturette A, which was powered by a 1.0-liter liquid-cooled engine developed in-house.

Now the factory’s engineers will gradually take charge of developing the future TSI engines of the EA 211 series in addition to the MPI units. Today the EA 211 model range is highly flexible with the engines in three or four cylinder format, ranging in size from 1.0-liter to 1.6 liters and currently covering a power output spectrum from 64bhp to more than 148bhp. The engines can use gasoline, CNG or ethanol and are also available in mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions.

Johannes Neft, Škoda board member for technical development, said: “Taking responsibility for the development of the entire EA 211 engine series is confirmation of Škoda’s high level of technical expertise. At the same time, this underlines the importance of the Škoda brand within the entire Volkswagen Group, as the engines in this series are used in 50 model lines of seven of its brands.”

— Paul Myles is a seasoned automotive journalist based in Europe. Follow him on Twitter @Paulmyles_