[iss1307]

Originally Posted by blackasta

On stressed engines and higher pollution - If I am not mistaken I remember a Top Gear UK episode where they ran a Prius chased by a BMW 3 series.
The BMW merely kept up with the hybrid which was driven in a scrambling manner.
The hybrid ended up burning more fuel than the BMW, and thus polluted more.
Not a scientific test, but points out the fact that small engines, when strained, pollute above their lab ratings.

I was just thinking about posting this incident and I saw your post. :lol

It was actually a M3, a 4.0L, V8 making more than 400bhp.
And yes it did give a higher rating than the Prius.
The conclusion was that it's all about the way you drive and not what you drive.

Link to the same.

https://youtu.be/eKIryzmF-VM

[volkman10]

VW Chairman Admits That Engine Downsizing Is Over!

Emissions tend to go up as engines get smaller," referring to the way that small-capacity engines can perform worse in real world Driving Emissions Tests (RDE) due to be introduced in Europe in 2019 as part of the Worldwide Harmonized Light-duty Vehicles Testing Procedure (WLTP).

VW will continue with its current 1.0-litre, three-cylinder engine for its smaller cars such as the Up and Polo, but it will not be developing smaller petrol engines than that and its diesel units will not be getting smaller than that current 1.6-litre unit, either

The Polo is currently 30 per cent diesel, but as diesel gets more expensive [to meet RDE tests], it will not be as popular

Link