It's a conversion typo by someone not reading the text - the text talks about an improvement in fuel economy of  one litre per 100 km - example, going from 6 litres per 100 km to 5 litres per 100 km - but whoever was adding the conversion to MPG in that article didn't read the 'while also improving fuel economy by 1 l/100 km' as a change and not an absolute, and instead just translated 1L/100 km into MPG - and 1L/100 km is indeed 235 MPG.

If the 6L/100 km system is unfamiliar, here's an example - if the old fuel economy rating was 6 l/100 km, and the new is 5 L/100 km, then we've gone from 39.4 mpg to 47.3 mpg.  

James
Metrified Ottawa, ON  
(Where I'm glad that if my '91 Weekender AT gets 14L/100 km on highway runs.)

> Date: Fri, 29 Apr 2016 17:04:15 +0000
> From: jim.felder@GMAIL.COM
> Subject: Re: Friday: New VW Engine--it's Miller (cycle) time
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> 
> I saw that to and attributed it to a typo. If not, it would appear in a lot
> bigger news outlets than Gizmag.
> 
> Jim
> 
> On Fri, Apr 29, 2016 at 11:58 AM Brent Weide <brent.weide@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> > I may not be reading it properly but does that really claim 235 mpg??
> >
> > On Fri, Apr 29, 2016 at 9:40 AM, David McNeely <davmcneely40@gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > The Mazda engine could never meet emissions standards, and was dropped,
> > > iirc.  True of their earlier rotary engine as well.
> > >
> > > On Fri, Apr 29, 2016 at 9:01 AM, Alistair Bel <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
> > >
> > > > VW , where our heads are firmly buried in the sand.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/apr/28/vw-and-shell-try-to-block-eu-push-for-cleaner-cars
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > And didn't Mazda sell a Miller cycle engine in a couple of models way
> > > back
> > > > in the nineties?
> > > >
> > > > Alistair
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > > On Apr 29, 2016, at 8:39 AM, Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
> > wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > From Gizmag.com today:
> > > > >
> > > > > Manufacturers are leaving no stone unturned in the quest to improve
> > the
> > > > > efficiency of their internal combustion engines. Just this week,
> > we've
> > > > seen
> > > > > a fastidiously engineered diesel engine
> > > > > <http://www.gizmag.com/ford-ecoblue-diesel-engine/43016/> from Ford
> > > > > and a camless
> > > > > engine <http://www.gizmag.com/qoros-qamfree-camless-engine/43045/>
> > > from
> > > > > Qoros. Now Volkswagen, no stranger to doing whatever it takes to
> > lower
> > > > > consumption (figures), has joined the party by releasing a 1.5-liter
> > > > Miller
> > > > > Cycle <
> > > > http://www.gizmag.com/audi-high-efficiency-two-liter-engine/37428/>
> > > > > engine
> > > > > tasked with improving fuel consumption and increasing low-down
> > torque.
> > > > >
> > > > > Volkswagen's engineers say there are a number of improvements that
> > come
> > > > > courtesy of the improved thermodynamic efficiency associated with
> > > Miller
> > > > > Cycle engines. An increase in the geometric compression ratio has,
> > > > > according to VW, allowed for improved efficiency in the load range
> > most
> > > > > customers will actually use, while the final compression temperature
> > > has
> > > > > been lowered through early closing of the intake valve and the
> > > expansion
> > > > > cooling that brings.
> > > > >
> > > > > Thanks to these improvements, VW claims its new engine offers up peak
> > > > > torque from just 1,300 rpm, while also improving fuel economy by 1
> > > l/100
> > > > km
> > > > > (235 US MPG) compared to the current 1.5-liter TSI engine.
> > > > >
> > > > > Working tandem with these big changes to the combustion cycle are a
> > > > number
> > > > > of small changes that, when combined, contribute to the longevity and
> > > > > efficiency of the engine. On the 110 kW (148 hp) version of the
> > engine,
> > > > the
> > > > > cylinder liners are coated with an atmospheric plasma spray to cut
> > down
> > > > on
> > > > > friction, improve heat dissipation and improve corrosion resistance.
> > > > >
> > > > > The engine's cooling system has also come under the microscope, and
> > now
> > > > > will make sure the water in the crankcase and engine remains
> > stationary
> > > > > while the car is warming up. As well as cutting the amount of time
> > > spent
> > > > > without the engine operating at ideal temperature, VW says the system
> > > > helps
> > > > > warm the cabin more quickly on cold mornings.
> > > > >
> > > > > Although it's usually used on high end, big displacement engines, VW
> > > has
> > > > > even fitted cylinder deactivation to the new engine, allowing it to
> > run
> > > > as
> > > > > a two-cylinder under light loads.
> > > > >
> > > > > An increasing injection pressure 350 bar has improved the mixture
> > > > formation
> > > > > in the engine, which should also lead to lower particulate emissions.
> > > > >
> > > > > Interestingly, the release makes it very clear the efficiency and
> > > > emissions
> > > > > improvements are unlikely to show up under test cycle conditions, but
> > > > > argues that they're likely to have a "distinct impact on the
> > customer's
> > > > > everyday driving."
> > > > >
> > > > > The new four-cylinder engine will find its way into showrooms later
> > > this
> > > > > year in 96 kW (129 hp) and 110 kW (148 hp) guises. It's currently on
> > > show
> > > > > at the Vienna Motor Symposium.
> > > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Brent Weide
> > Portland, Oregon
> > www.weidefamily.net/vanagon/
> >