Honeywell Sets New Standard in Small Engine Turbocharging

GENEVA, March 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Honeywell (NYSE: HON) announced today that its turbocharger will be featured on the world's most fuel efficient five-seater passenger car – the newly launched VW Polo BlueMotion 1.2L diesel. Turbochargers are redefining performance in small engines and demonstrating the benefits of engine downsizing.

The new generation Polo is bigger and 18% heavier than its predecessor, yet even though its 3-cylinder engine is 15% smaller, with boost from Honeywell's latest Euro5 VNT™ (Variable Nozzle Turbine) turbo, the car is delivering comparable power and torque ratings along with industry-leading fuel economy.  

The latest Polo easily complies with the 120g/km CO2 emissions objective five years ahead of the 2015 target, delivering an industry-leading 87g/km (71mpg US) as a result of complementary technologies, such as turbocharging, direct injection, regenerative braking and automatic stop-start.

"With the arrival of the new Polo, there is compelling evidence that engine downsizing is taking hold and that enhanced turbocharging solutions, such as Honeywell's new generation of small VNTs, will increasingly be featured in smaller vehicle segments," says Alex Ismail, President & CEO of Honeywell Transportation Systems.

The new Polo BlueMotion shows an outstanding 15% improvement in fuel efficiency (to 3.3L/100km) and a 15% reduction in CO2 levels when compared to the prior generation Polo BlueMotion with a 1.4L diesel, while maintaining a similar level of performance despite increased vehicle size and weight. Smaller clearly no longer means compromising on performance.

For Honeywell, this latest application confirms its global leadership in the small turbocharged passenger car market, as recently illustrated at the Detroit Motor Show, where two Honeywell-boosted 1.4L gasoline launches – GM's Chevy Cruse and the Chrysler/Fiat MultiAir – signalled the emergence in the US of a new segment with high-growth potential.

Industry research suggests that by 2014, 50% of all turbocharged engines will be 1.7L or smaller – compared to 35% in 2009.

Honeywell Turbo Technologies is the leading automotive turbocharger developer in the world, and is a business unit of Honeywell Transportation Systems, which also consists of Consumer Products Group and Friction Materials. As a leading automotive supplier, Honeywell Transportation Systems enhances vehicle performance, efficiency and appearance through state-of-the-art technologies, world-class brands, and global solutions tailored for its automotive customers around the world.

Honeywell International (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; automotive products; turbochargers; and specialty materials. Based in Morris Township, N.J., Honeywell's shares are traded on the New York, London, and Chicago Stock Exchanges.  For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywellnow.com.

This release contains forward-looking statements as defined in Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements about future business operations, financial performance and market conditions.  Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties inherent in business forecasts as further described in our filings under the Securities Exchange Act.

SOURCE Honeywell