VR6 engine
Encyclopedia
The VR6 engine is an internal combustion engine
configuration
, consisting of six cylinders
. It was developed by the Volkswagen Group
in the late 1980s, and evolutions of the original variant are still produced by them.
It is similar to a 'Vee' engine
, but with the two banks of cylinders offset and tilted from each other by a narrow angle of either 10.6 or 15 degrees - instead of the more common 45°, 60°, or 90° as found on conventional Vee engines.
) - and so is described as a "Vee-Row" engine.
This engine configuration
can also be described as a "staggered six", in keeping with the narrow angle geometry of the Lancia Fulvia
staggered-four, developed in the late-1950s (a continuation of Lancia's V4 design practice dating back to the 1920s).
The Volkswagen VR6 was specifically designed for transverse engine
installations in front-wheel drive
vehicles. The narrow angle of 15° between the two 'rows' in the VR6 engine is a more compact size than a conventional V6 design. This made it possible for Volkswagen to install six-cylinder engines in existing four-cylinder cars. The wider configuration of a conventional V6 engine
would have required an extensive redesign of the vehicles to enlarge the engine compartment. The VR6 is also able to use the firing order
of a straight-six engine.
The narrow angle between cylinders allows the use of just one 'cylinder bank
', and one cylinder head
- whereas conventional Vee engines have two cylinder banks and require two separate cylinder heads. This arrangement also allows for two overhead camshaft
s to drive all the valves. This simplifies engine construction and reduces costs. In early 12 valve VR6 engines, there were two overhead camshafts with six cam lobes
on each. The forward camshaft has three intake valve lobes and three exhaust valve lobes to control the frontmost three cylinders. The rear camshaft is designed the same way, but controls the rearmost three cylinders. The operating principle of this design is most similar to a single overhead camshaft (SOHC) design. Later 24 valve VR6 engines still had two overhead camshafts, but with 12 cam lobes each. However, the operation of the camshafts in the 24 valve engine is different to that of the earlier 12 valve engine, in that the front camshaft only operates the intake valves, and the rear camshaft only operates the exhaust valves. The operating principle of this design is most similar to a double overhead camshaft (DOHC) design.
There are several different variants of the VR6 engine. The original VR6 engine displaced 2.8 litre
s and featured a 12 valve design (two valves per cylinder). These engines produced a DIN
-rated power output of 128 kW, and 240 N·m (177 ft·lbf) of torque
.
cast iron
crankcase
and cylinder block
, and one lightweight aluminium alloy
crossflow
cylinder head
, with two valves per cylinder
, operated by chain
-driven overhead camshaft
s. All fuel and ignition
requirements of the VR6 engine are controlled by Bosch
Motronic
engine control unit
(ECU). This engine management system features a Mass flow sensor
, dual knock
sensors for cylinder-selective ignition knock regulation, and Lambda regulation for the air/fuel mixture. Exhaust gases are channeled through a three-way catalytic converter
.
Volkswagen Group identifies the original VR6 by the chassis "AAA" engine ID code. It operates on the four-stroke cycle, has an engine displacement
of 2.8 litre
s, although some Europe
an engines had a displacement of 2.9 litres (this variant identified by the "ABV" engine ID code). The cylinder bore diameter is 82 millimetres (3.23 in), and the piston
stroke is 90 millimetres (3.54 in). The "Vee" angle is 15°, and the compression ratio
(CR) is 10:1.
The drop-forge
d steel
, six-throw crankshaft
runs in seven main bearing
s. The connecting rod
bearing
journals are offset 22° to one another. Two overhead camshaft
s (OHCs) operate the automatic hydraulic
valve lifters which, in turn, open and close the 39 millimetres (1.54 in) intake valves and 34.3 millimetres (1.35 in) exhaust valves. Since the two 'rows' of piston
s and cylinders share a single cylinder head and head gasket
, the piston crown (or top surface) is tilted. Intake and exhaust valves need different camshaft
s to vary valve overlap (they may be coaxial like in some 90° V8). To minimise the number of camshafts, both rows share their camshafts (similar some 90° V8s). The intake and exhaust ports pass closely within the cylinder head; this then heats the intake air/fuel mixture before it is ignited by the spark plug
, which limits the amount of timing advance that can be used due to an increased possibility of pre-detonation of the air/fuel mixture and has the effect of reducing power. This also cools the exhaust gasses, which hampers the operation of the catalytic converter.
Because of the cylinder arrangement in the VR6 - with two rows of combustion chamber
s within the same cylinder head, the intake ports between the two rows of cylinders are of varying lengths. Depending on the specific generation of VR6, the difference in intake port length is compensated in the intake manifold, the camshaft overlap and lift profile, or a combination thereof. In the original VR6, each port is 420 millimetres (16.5 in) long. Exhaust gases are channeled from two 3-branch cast iron
exhaust manifold
s (one dedicated to three cylinders) into a sheathed Y-pipe. From there, they are channeled into a single flow pipe, before passing over the heated oxygen sensor
, and then to the catalytic converter
.
The fuel injectors
, operated by the Bosch
Motronic
engine control unit
(ECU) system, are mounted behind the bend of the intake manifolds. The water pump housing is cast integral with the cylinder block. VR6 engines also use an additional auxiliary electric pump to circulate the engine coolant whilst the engine is running, and also during the cooling fan 'after-run' cycle, in addition to the belt-driven main water pump.
A replaceable oil filter cartridge element is used on the VR6 engine. The sump-mounted oil pump
is driven via an intermediate shaft. An oil pressure control valve is integrated in the pump.
The one-piece cylinder block
and crankcase
is made from pearlitic grey
cast iron
with microalloyed steel
(microalloy). The two rows of three cylinders are arranged at a 15° axial angle from the crankshaft
. The cylinder bores are 81 millimetres (3.19 in) in diameter
, with a spacing of 65 millimetres (2.6 in) between cylinders. They are staggered, but overlap along the length of the engine block - to allow the engine to be shorter and more compact than conventional V6 engines.
The centerline of the cylinders are also offset from the centerline of the crankshaft by 12.5 millimetre (0.492125984251969 in). To accommodate the offset cylinder placement and narrow "Vee" design, the connecting rod
bearing journals are offset 22° to each other. This also allows the use of a 120° firing interval between cylinders. The firing order
is: 1, 5, 3, 6, 2, 4.
by Volkswagen in 1991, in the Passat
and Corrado
; and in North America
the following year. The Passat, Passat Variant (estate/wagon
), and US-specification Corrado used the original 2.8 litre
design; the European-specification Corrado and the 4WD Passat Syncro
received a 2.9 litre version with 140 kW. This version also had a free flowing 6 centimetres (2.4 in) (2.5 in) catalytic converter
, sharper camshafts, 4 bars (58 psi) fuel pressure regulator, enlarged inlet manifold, and larger throttle body.
The 2.9 litre engine, as destined for the Corrado, was originally designed to benefit from a dual-tract variable-length inlet manifold
- called the VSR , and made by Pierburg for Volkswagen Motorsport. This gave extra low-down torque, but was deleted before production on cost grounds, and was instead offered as an aftermarket option. This design was later sold to Schrick, who redesigned it and offered it as the Schrick VGI ("Variable Geometry Intake").
In 1992, with the introduction of the Volkswagen Golf Mk3
, a six-cylinder engine was available for the first time in a lower-midsize segment hatchback
in Europe. North America waited until 1994 to receive this engine; at the same time, the European model started to use the 2.9 litre in the VR6 Syncro model. The corresponding Vento/Jetta VR6 versions appeared in the same years.
Volkswagen Group removed a cylinder from the VR6 in 1997 to create the VR5 (aka 'V5'), the second block to use an uneven number of cylinders in a Vee design after the Honda V3 triples of MotoGP fame. This version, which had a 2.3 litre capacity, was capable of 110 kW, and had a maximum torque of 210 newton metres (155 ft·lbf). It was introduced in the Passat in 1997, and the Golf and Bora in 1999.
Further modifications were added to the design in 1999, with the introduction of the 24-valve
2.8 litre VR6. This engine produced 150 kW, and 265 newton metres (195 ft·lbf) of torque. The new version was not available in the Passat (as it was incompatible with the then-current generation's longitudinal engine
layout), but was introduced as the range-topper in the Golf and Bora for European markets. The VR6 name was dropped as a commercial designation, and the 4WD system (now renamed 4motion
) became standard on the V6 (VR6) in Europe. The corresponding multi-valve V5 was only released in 2001, with a 20 PS power increase, to 125 kW. The multi-valve V6 (VR6) was introduced in North America in 2001 aboard the T4 Eurovan, producing 150 kW, and in the GTI in 2002 (where it retained the VR6 name).
In 1999, an updated 12-valve VR6 model was released for the North American market A4-platform Golf Mk4
/GTI
/Jetta
product line. This new VR6 improved performance via updated camshaft
s, variable geometry intake manifold
, an increased compression ratio of 10.5:1, and updated emissions equipment. Power increased to 130 kW at 5,800 rpm
, while torque increased to 245 newton metres (181 ft·lbf) at 3,200 rpm. This engine option was available from 1999.5—2002, when it was replaced by the 24-valve engine.
In 2001, the VR6 was enlarged to 3.2 litre
s, to create a limited-production, high performance, 168 kW version of the New Beetle
called Beetle RSi. The Beetle RSi was the first production vehicle to use the 3.2 litre
24-valve
VR6 engine. This engine was later used in the Mk4 Golf R32, and was also introduced in the original Audi TT
. According to Volkswagen Group, these variants produced 184 kW in TT trim (engine ID code: BHE), and 177 kW in R32 trim (engine ID code: BFH/BML).
The range-topping 3.2 litre VR6 was later used in the current Audi A3
and the Mk5 Golf R32.
In 2005, the European market version of Volkswagen's sixth generation Passat, now with a transverse engine layout, went on sale with a revised version of the 3.2 litre VR6 as its top-spec engine. For North America, the Passat received a new 3.6 litre VR6 with a narrower 10.6 degree cylinder angle, producing 206 kW. These revised 3.2 and 3.6 feature Fuel Stratified Injection
(FSI). This new 3.2 FSI VR6 develops 184 kW at 6,250 rpm, and 330 newton metres (243 ft·lbf)at 3,000 rpm. The introduction of the Passat VR6 also marked the first time a VR6 powered vehicle was made available in North America before Europe.
The new Passat R36, available from early 2008, received an uprated version of the 3.6 FSI VR6 engine, with 220 kW at 6,600 rpm and 350 newton metres (258 ft·lbf) at 2,400 rpm, standard 4motion four-wheel drive, and standard Direct-Shift Gearbox
(DSG).
The first generation Porsche Cayenne base model is powered by a 3.2-liter VR6 engine producing 250 hp (190 kW); modifications in the exhaust manifold allow power to peak at 6700 rpm. This is the same 3.2-liter motor found on a Volkswagen Touareg and Volkswagen R32.
The VR6 is also used in other Volkswagen Group products, namely:
s" by VW Group. For example, two VR6 banks mated together at 72 degrees result in a W12 engine
configuration, which is significantly shorter than a conventional V12 engine
, but only marginally wider. W8 engine
and W16 engine
designs were developed in a similar fashion. The W8 uses two four-cylinder "VR4" banks mated together, and the W16 combines two "VR8" banks.
Internal combustion engine
The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer in a combustion chamber. In an internal combustion engine, the expansion of the high-temperature and high -pressure gases produced by combustion apply direct force to some component of the engine...
configuration
Engine configuration
Engine configuration is an engineering term for the layout of the major components of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine. These components are the cylinders and crankshafts in particular but also, sometimes, the camshaft....
, consisting of six cylinders
Cylinder (engine)
A cylinder is the central working part of a reciprocating engine or pump, the space in which a piston travels. Multiple cylinders are commonly arranged side by side in a bank, or engine block, which is typically cast from aluminum or cast iron before receiving precision machine work...
. It was developed by the Volkswagen Group
Volkswagen Group
Volkswagen Group is a German multinational automobile manufacturing group. , Volkswagen was ranked as the world’s third largest motor vehicle manufacturer and Europe's largest....
in the late 1980s, and evolutions of the original variant are still produced by them.
It is similar to a 'Vee' engine
V engine
A V engine, or Vee engine is a common configuration for an internal combustion engine. The cylinders and pistons are aligned, in two separate planes or 'banks', so that they appear to be in a "V" when viewed along the axis of the crankshaft...
, but with the two banks of cylinders offset and tilted from each other by a narrow angle of either 10.6 or 15 degrees - instead of the more common 45°, 60°, or 90° as found on conventional Vee engines.
Description
The name VR6 comes from a combination of V engine , and the German word "Reihenmotor" (meaning "row engine" or straight engineStraight engine
Usually found in four- and six-cylinder configurations, the straight engine, or inline engine is an internal-combustion engine with all cylinders aligned in one row, with no offset...
) - and so is described as a "Vee-Row" engine.
This engine configuration
Engine configuration
Engine configuration is an engineering term for the layout of the major components of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine. These components are the cylinders and crankshafts in particular but also, sometimes, the camshaft....
can also be described as a "staggered six", in keeping with the narrow angle geometry of the Lancia Fulvia
Lancia Fulvia
The Lancia Fulvia is an Italian car introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in 1963 by Lancia. It was produced by that company through 1976. Fulvias are notable for their role in automobile racing history, including winning the International Rally Championship in 1972...
staggered-four, developed in the late-1950s (a continuation of Lancia's V4 design practice dating back to the 1920s).
The Volkswagen VR6 was specifically designed for transverse engine
Transverse engine
A transverse engine is an engine mounted in a vehicle so that the engine's crankshaft axis is perpendicular to the long axis of the vehicle. Many modern front wheel drive vehicles use this engine mounting configuration...
installations in front-wheel drive
Front-wheel drive
Front-wheel drive is a form of engine/transmission layout used in motor vehicles, where the engine drives the front wheels only. Most modern front-wheel drive vehicles feature a transverse engine, rather than the conventional longitudinal engine arrangement generally found in rear-wheel drive and...
vehicles. The narrow angle of 15° between the two 'rows' in the VR6 engine is a more compact size than a conventional V6 design. This made it possible for Volkswagen to install six-cylinder engines in existing four-cylinder cars. The wider configuration of a conventional V6 engine
V6 engine
A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of three cylinders, usually set at either a right angle or an acute angle to each other, with all six pistons driving a common crankshaft...
would have required an extensive redesign of the vehicles to enlarge the engine compartment. The VR6 is also able to use the firing order
Firing order
The firing order is the sequence of power delivery of each cylinder in a multi-cylinder reciprocating engine.This is achieved by sparking of the spark plugs in a gasoline engine in the correct order, or by the sequence of fuel injection in a Diesel engine...
of a straight-six engine.
The narrow angle between cylinders allows the use of just one 'cylinder bank
Cylinder bank
Internal combustion piston engines are usually arranged so that the cylinders are in lines parallel to the crankshaft. Where they are in a single line, this is referred to as an inline or straight engine....
', and one cylinder head
Cylinder head
In an internal combustion engine, the cylinder head sits above the cylinders on top of the cylinder block. It closes in the top of the cylinder, forming the combustion chamber. This joint is sealed by a head gasket...
- whereas conventional Vee engines have two cylinder banks and require two separate cylinder heads. This arrangement also allows for two overhead camshaft
Overhead camshaft
Overhead cam valvetrain configurations place the engine camshaft within the cylinder heads, above the combustion chambers, and drive the valves or lifters in a more direct manner compared to overhead valves and pushrods...
s to drive all the valves. This simplifies engine construction and reduces costs. In early 12 valve VR6 engines, there were two overhead camshafts with six cam lobes
Cam
A cam is a rotating or sliding piece in a mechanical linkage used especially in transforming rotary motion into linear motion or vice-versa. It is often a part of a rotating wheel or shaft that strikes a lever at one or more points on its circular path...
on each. The forward camshaft has three intake valve lobes and three exhaust valve lobes to control the frontmost three cylinders. The rear camshaft is designed the same way, but controls the rearmost three cylinders. The operating principle of this design is most similar to a single overhead camshaft (SOHC) design. Later 24 valve VR6 engines still had two overhead camshafts, but with 12 cam lobes each. However, the operation of the camshafts in the 24 valve engine is different to that of the earlier 12 valve engine, in that the front camshaft only operates the intake valves, and the rear camshaft only operates the exhaust valves. The operating principle of this design is most similar to a double overhead camshaft (DOHC) design.
There are several different variants of the VR6 engine. The original VR6 engine displaced 2.8 litre
Litre
pic|200px|right|thumb|One litre is equivalent to this cubeEach side is 10 cm1 litre water = 1 kilogram water The litre is a metric system unit of volume equal to 1 cubic decimetre , to 1,000 cubic centimetres , and to 1/1,000 cubic metre...
s and featured a 12 valve design (two valves per cylinder). These engines produced a DIN
Deutsches Institut für Normung
is the German national organization for standardization and is that country's ISO member body. DIN is a Registered German Association headquartered in Berlin...
-rated power output of 128 kW, and 240 N·m (177 ft·lbf) of torque
Torque
Torque, moment or moment of force , is the tendency of a force to rotate an object about an axis, fulcrum, or pivot. Just as a force is a push or a pull, a torque can be thought of as a twist....
.
Detailed specifications
The original VR6 engine features a one-piece greyGray iron
Gray iron, or grey iron, is a type of cast iron that has a graphitic microstructure. It is named after the gray color of the fracture it forms, which is due to the presence of graphite...
cast iron
Cast iron
Cast iron is derived from pig iron, and while it usually refers to gray iron, it also identifies a large group of ferrous alloys which solidify with a eutectic. The color of a fractured surface can be used to identify an alloy. White cast iron is named after its white surface when fractured, due...
crankcase
Crankcase
In an internal combustion engine of the reciprocating type, the crankcase is the housing for the crankshaft. The enclosure forms the largest cavity in the engine and is located below the cylinder, which in a multicylinder engine are usually integrated into one or several cylinder blocks...
and cylinder block
Cylinder block
A cylinder block is an integrated structure comprising the cylinder of a reciprocating engine and often some or all of their associated surrounding structures...
, and one lightweight aluminium alloy
Aluminium alloy
Aluminium alloys are alloys in which aluminium is the predominant metal. The typical alloying elements are copper, magnesium, manganese, silicon and zinc. There are two principal classifications, namely casting alloys and wrought alloys, both of which are further subdivided into the categories...
crossflow
Crossflow cylinder head
A crossflow cylinder head is a cylinder head that features the intake and exhaust ports on opposite sides. The gases can be thought to flow across the head...
cylinder head
Cylinder head
In an internal combustion engine, the cylinder head sits above the cylinders on top of the cylinder block. It closes in the top of the cylinder, forming the combustion chamber. This joint is sealed by a head gasket...
, with two valves per cylinder
Cylinder (engine)
A cylinder is the central working part of a reciprocating engine or pump, the space in which a piston travels. Multiple cylinders are commonly arranged side by side in a bank, or engine block, which is typically cast from aluminum or cast iron before receiving precision machine work...
, operated by chain
Chain
A chain is a sequence of connected links.Chain may also refer to:Chain may refer to:* Necklace - a jewelry which is worn around the neck* Mail , a type of armor made of interlocking chain links...
-driven overhead camshaft
Overhead camshaft
Overhead cam valvetrain configurations place the engine camshaft within the cylinder heads, above the combustion chambers, and drive the valves or lifters in a more direct manner compared to overhead valves and pushrods...
s. All fuel and ignition
Ignition system
An ignition system is a system for igniting a fuel-air mixture. Ignition systems are well known in the field of internal combustion engines such as those used in petrol engines used to power the majority of motor vehicles, but they are also used in many other applications such as in oil-fired and...
requirements of the VR6 engine are controlled by Bosch
Robert Bosch GmbH
Robert Bosch GmbH is a multinational engineering and electronics company headquartered in Gerlingen, near Stuttgart, Germany. It is the world's largest supplier of automotive components...
Motronic
Motronic
Motronic is the trade name given to a range of digital engine-management systems developed by Robert Bosch GmbH, commonly known as Bosch.-Motronic ML1.x:Motronic ML1.x was one of the first digital engine-management systems developed by Bosch...
engine control unit
Engine control unit
An engine control unit is a type of electronic control unit that determines the amount of fuel, ignition timing and other parameters an internal combustion engine needs to keep running...
(ECU). This engine management system features a Mass flow sensor
Mass flow sensor
A mass air flow sensor is used to find out the mass flowrate of air entering a fuel-injected internal combustion engine. The air mass information is necessary for the engine control unit to balance and deliver the correct fuel mass to the engine. Air changes its density as it expands and contracts...
, dual knock
Engine knocking
Knocking in spark-ignition internal combustion engines occurs when combustion of the air/fuel mixture in the cylinder starts off correctly in response to ignition by the spark plug, but one or more pockets of air/fuel mixture explode outside the envelope of the normal combustion front.The...
sensors for cylinder-selective ignition knock regulation, and Lambda regulation for the air/fuel mixture. Exhaust gases are channeled through a three-way catalytic converter
Catalytic converter
A catalytic converter is a device used to convert toxic exhaust emissions from an internal combustion engine into non-toxic substances. Inside a catalytic converter, a catalyst stimulates a chemical reaction in which noxious byproducts of combustion are converted to less toxic substances by dint...
.
Volkswagen Group identifies the original VR6 by the chassis "AAA" engine ID code. It operates on the four-stroke cycle, has an engine displacement
Engine displacement
Engine displacement is the volume swept by all the pistons inside the cylinders of an internal combustion engine in a single movement from top dead centre to bottom dead centre . It is commonly specified in cubic centimeters , litres , or cubic inches...
of 2.8 litre
Litre
pic|200px|right|thumb|One litre is equivalent to this cubeEach side is 10 cm1 litre water = 1 kilogram water The litre is a metric system unit of volume equal to 1 cubic decimetre , to 1,000 cubic centimetres , and to 1/1,000 cubic metre...
s, although some Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an engines had a displacement of 2.9 litres (this variant identified by the "ABV" engine ID code). The cylinder bore diameter is 82 millimetres (3.23 in), and the piston
Piston
A piston is a component of reciprocating engines, reciprocating pumps, gas compressors and pneumatic cylinders, among other similar mechanisms. It is the moving component that is contained by a cylinder and is made gas-tight by piston rings. In an engine, its purpose is to transfer force from...
stroke is 90 millimetres (3.54 in). The "Vee" angle is 15°, and the compression ratio
Compression ratio
The 'compression ratio' of an internal-combustion engine or external combustion engine is a value that represents the ratio of the volume of its combustion chamber from its largest capacity to its smallest capacity...
(CR) is 10:1.
The drop-forge
Forge
A forge is a hearth used for forging. The term "forge" can also refer to the workplace of a smith or a blacksmith, although the term smithy is then more commonly used.The basic smithy contains a forge, also known as a hearth, for heating metals...
d steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
, six-throw crankshaft
Crankshaft
The crankshaft, sometimes casually abbreviated to crank, is the part of an engine which translates reciprocating linear piston motion into rotation...
runs in seven main bearing
Main bearing
In a piston engine, the main bearings are the bearings on which the crankshaft rotates, usually plain or journal bearings.All engines have a minimum of two main bearings, one at each end of the crankshaft, and they may have as many as one more than the number of crank pins...
s. The connecting rod
Connecting rod
In a reciprocating piston engine, the connecting rod or conrod connects the piston to the crank or crankshaft. Together with the crank, they form a simple mechanism that converts linear motion into rotating motion....
bearing
Bearing (mechanical)
A bearing is a device to allow constrained relative motion between two or more parts, typically rotation or linear movement. Bearings may be classified broadly according to the motions they allow and according to their principle of operation as well as by the directions of applied loads they can...
journals are offset 22° to one another. Two overhead camshaft
Overhead camshaft
Overhead cam valvetrain configurations place the engine camshaft within the cylinder heads, above the combustion chambers, and drive the valves or lifters in a more direct manner compared to overhead valves and pushrods...
s (OHCs) operate the automatic hydraulic
Hydraulics
Hydraulics is a topic in applied science and engineering dealing with the mechanical properties of liquids. Fluid mechanics provides the theoretical foundation for hydraulics, which focuses on the engineering uses of fluid properties. In fluid power, hydraulics is used for the generation, control,...
valve lifters which, in turn, open and close the 39 millimetres (1.54 in) intake valves and 34.3 millimetres (1.35 in) exhaust valves. Since the two 'rows' of piston
Piston
A piston is a component of reciprocating engines, reciprocating pumps, gas compressors and pneumatic cylinders, among other similar mechanisms. It is the moving component that is contained by a cylinder and is made gas-tight by piston rings. In an engine, its purpose is to transfer force from...
s and cylinders share a single cylinder head and head gasket
Head gasket
A head gasket is a gasket that sits between the engine block and cylinder head in an internal combustion engine. Its purpose is to seal the cylinders to ensure maximum compression and avoid leakage of coolant or engine oil into the cylinders; as such, it is the most critical sealing application in...
, the piston crown (or top surface) is tilted. Intake and exhaust valves need different camshaft
Camshaft
A camshaft is a shaft to which a cam is fastened or of which a cam forms an integral part.-History:An early cam was built into Hellenistic water-driven automata from the 3rd century BC. The camshaft was later described in Iraq by Al-Jazari in 1206. He employed it as part of his automata,...
s to vary valve overlap (they may be coaxial like in some 90° V8). To minimise the number of camshafts, both rows share their camshafts (similar some 90° V8s). The intake and exhaust ports pass closely within the cylinder head; this then heats the intake air/fuel mixture before it is ignited by the spark plug
Spark plug
A spark plug is an electrical device that fits into the cylinder head of some internal combustion engines and ignites compressed fuels such as aerosol, gasoline, ethanol, and liquefied petroleum gas by means of an electric spark.Spark plugs have an insulated central electrode which is connected by...
, which limits the amount of timing advance that can be used due to an increased possibility of pre-detonation of the air/fuel mixture and has the effect of reducing power. This also cools the exhaust gasses, which hampers the operation of the catalytic converter.
Because of the cylinder arrangement in the VR6 - with two rows of combustion chamber
Combustion chamber
A combustion chamber is the part of an engine in which fuel is burned.-Internal combustion engine:The hot gases produced by the combustion occupy a far greater volume than the original fuel, thus creating an increase in pressure within the limited volume of the chamber...
s within the same cylinder head, the intake ports between the two rows of cylinders are of varying lengths. Depending on the specific generation of VR6, the difference in intake port length is compensated in the intake manifold, the camshaft overlap and lift profile, or a combination thereof. In the original VR6, each port is 420 millimetres (16.5 in) long. Exhaust gases are channeled from two 3-branch cast iron
Cast iron
Cast iron is derived from pig iron, and while it usually refers to gray iron, it also identifies a large group of ferrous alloys which solidify with a eutectic. The color of a fractured surface can be used to identify an alloy. White cast iron is named after its white surface when fractured, due...
exhaust manifold
Exhaust manifold
In automotive engineering, an exhaust manifold collects the exhaust gases from multiple cylinders into one pipe. The word manifold comes from the Old English word manigfeald and refers to the folding together of multiple inputs and outputs.In contrast, an inlet manifold is the part of an engine...
s (one dedicated to three cylinders) into a sheathed Y-pipe. From there, they are channeled into a single flow pipe, before passing over the heated oxygen sensor
Oxygen sensor
An oxygen sensor, or lambda sensor, is an electronic device that measures the proportion of oxygen in the gas or liquid being analyzed. It was developed by the Robert Bosch GmbH company during the late 1960s under the supervision of Dr. Günter Bauman...
, and then to the catalytic converter
Catalytic converter
A catalytic converter is a device used to convert toxic exhaust emissions from an internal combustion engine into non-toxic substances. Inside a catalytic converter, a catalyst stimulates a chemical reaction in which noxious byproducts of combustion are converted to less toxic substances by dint...
.
The fuel injectors
Fuel injection
Fuel injection is a system for admitting fuel into an internal combustion engine. It has become the primary fuel delivery system used in automotive petrol engines, having almost completely replaced carburetors in the late 1980s....
, operated by the Bosch
Robert Bosch GmbH
Robert Bosch GmbH is a multinational engineering and electronics company headquartered in Gerlingen, near Stuttgart, Germany. It is the world's largest supplier of automotive components...
Motronic
Motronic
Motronic is the trade name given to a range of digital engine-management systems developed by Robert Bosch GmbH, commonly known as Bosch.-Motronic ML1.x:Motronic ML1.x was one of the first digital engine-management systems developed by Bosch...
engine control unit
Engine control unit
An engine control unit is a type of electronic control unit that determines the amount of fuel, ignition timing and other parameters an internal combustion engine needs to keep running...
(ECU) system, are mounted behind the bend of the intake manifolds. The water pump housing is cast integral with the cylinder block. VR6 engines also use an additional auxiliary electric pump to circulate the engine coolant whilst the engine is running, and also during the cooling fan 'after-run' cycle, in addition to the belt-driven main water pump.
A replaceable oil filter cartridge element is used on the VR6 engine. The sump-mounted oil pump
Oil pump (internal combustion engine)
The oil pump in an internal combustion engine circulates engine oil under pressure to the rotating bearings, the sliding pistons and the camshaft of the engine...
is driven via an intermediate shaft. An oil pressure control valve is integrated in the pump.
The one-piece cylinder block
Cylinder block
A cylinder block is an integrated structure comprising the cylinder of a reciprocating engine and often some or all of their associated surrounding structures...
and crankcase
Crankcase
In an internal combustion engine of the reciprocating type, the crankcase is the housing for the crankshaft. The enclosure forms the largest cavity in the engine and is located below the cylinder, which in a multicylinder engine are usually integrated into one or several cylinder blocks...
is made from pearlitic grey
Gray iron
Gray iron, or grey iron, is a type of cast iron that has a graphitic microstructure. It is named after the gray color of the fracture it forms, which is due to the presence of graphite...
cast iron
Cast iron
Cast iron is derived from pig iron, and while it usually refers to gray iron, it also identifies a large group of ferrous alloys which solidify with a eutectic. The color of a fractured surface can be used to identify an alloy. White cast iron is named after its white surface when fractured, due...
with microalloyed steel
Microalloyed steel
Microalloyed steel is a type of alloy steel that contains small amounts of alloying elements . Standard alloying elements include: niobium, vanadium, titanium, molybdenum, zirconium, boron, and rare-earth metals...
(microalloy). The two rows of three cylinders are arranged at a 15° axial angle from the crankshaft
Crankshaft
The crankshaft, sometimes casually abbreviated to crank, is the part of an engine which translates reciprocating linear piston motion into rotation...
. The cylinder bores are 81 millimetres (3.19 in) in diameter
Diameter
In geometry, a diameter of a circle is any straight line segment that passes through the center of the circle and whose endpoints are on the circle. The diameters are the longest chords of the circle...
, with a spacing of 65 millimetres (2.6 in) between cylinders. They are staggered, but overlap along the length of the engine block - to allow the engine to be shorter and more compact than conventional V6 engines.
The centerline of the cylinders are also offset from the centerline of the crankshaft by 12.5 millimetre (0.492125984251969 in). To accommodate the offset cylinder placement and narrow "Vee" design, the connecting rod
Connecting rod
In a reciprocating piston engine, the connecting rod or conrod connects the piston to the crank or crankshaft. Together with the crank, they form a simple mechanism that converts linear motion into rotating motion....
bearing journals are offset 22° to each other. This also allows the use of a 120° firing interval between cylinders. The firing order
Firing order
The firing order is the sequence of power delivery of each cylinder in a multi-cylinder reciprocating engine.This is achieved by sparking of the spark plugs in a gasoline engine in the correct order, or by the sequence of fuel injection in a Diesel engine...
is: 1, 5, 3, 6, 2, 4.
History and evolution
The Volkswagen Group VR6 engine was introduced in EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
by Volkswagen in 1991, in the Passat
Volkswagen Passat
The Volkswagen Passat is a large family car marketed by Volkswagen Passenger Cars through six design generations since 1973. Between the Volkswagen Golf / Volkswagen Jetta and the Volkswagen Phaeton in the current Volkswagen line-up, the Passat and its derivatives have been badged variously as...
and Corrado
Volkswagen Corrado
The Volkswagen Corrado is a hatchback coupé developed by German automaker Volkswagen and built by Karmann in Osnabrück, Germany, between 1 September 1988 and 31 July 1995....
; and in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
the following year. The Passat, Passat Variant (estate/wagon
Station wagon
A station wagon is a body style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door , instead of a trunk lid...
), and US-specification Corrado used the original 2.8 litre
Litre
pic|200px|right|thumb|One litre is equivalent to this cubeEach side is 10 cm1 litre water = 1 kilogram water The litre is a metric system unit of volume equal to 1 cubic decimetre , to 1,000 cubic centimetres , and to 1/1,000 cubic metre...
design; the European-specification Corrado and the 4WD Passat Syncro
4motion
4motion is a registered trademark of Volkswagen AG, used exclusively on Volkswagen-branded automobiles which utilise four-wheel drive systems. Volkswagen has previously used the term "Syncro" for its 4WD models....
received a 2.9 litre version with 140 kW. This version also had a free flowing 6 centimetres (2.4 in) (2.5 in) catalytic converter
Catalytic converter
A catalytic converter is a device used to convert toxic exhaust emissions from an internal combustion engine into non-toxic substances. Inside a catalytic converter, a catalyst stimulates a chemical reaction in which noxious byproducts of combustion are converted to less toxic substances by dint...
, sharper camshafts, 4 bars (58 psi) fuel pressure regulator, enlarged inlet manifold, and larger throttle body.
The 2.9 litre engine, as destined for the Corrado, was originally designed to benefit from a dual-tract variable-length inlet manifold
Variable Length Intake Manifold
In internal combustion engines, a variable length intake manifold , or variable intake manifold is an automobile internal combustion engine manifold technology...
- called the VSR , and made by Pierburg for Volkswagen Motorsport. This gave extra low-down torque, but was deleted before production on cost grounds, and was instead offered as an aftermarket option. This design was later sold to Schrick, who redesigned it and offered it as the Schrick VGI ("Variable Geometry Intake").
In 1992, with the introduction of the Volkswagen Golf Mk3
Volkswagen Golf Mk3
The third-generation Volkswagen Golf Mk3 was a car launched in Europe in November 1991 , and in North America in the spring of 1993. The delay in North America was due to Volkswagen's decision to supply U.S. and Canadian dealerships with Mk3 Golfs from the VW plant in Puebla, Mexico...
, a six-cylinder engine was available for the first time in a lower-midsize segment hatchback
Hatchback
A Hatchback is a car body style incorporating a shared passenger and cargo volume, with rearmost accessibility via a rear third or fifth door, typically a top-hinged liftgate—and features such as fold-down rear seats to enable flexibility within the shared passenger/cargo volume. As a two-box...
in Europe. North America waited until 1994 to receive this engine; at the same time, the European model started to use the 2.9 litre in the VR6 Syncro model. The corresponding Vento/Jetta VR6 versions appeared in the same years.
Volkswagen Group removed a cylinder from the VR6 in 1997 to create the VR5 (aka 'V5'), the second block to use an uneven number of cylinders in a Vee design after the Honda V3 triples of MotoGP fame. This version, which had a 2.3 litre capacity, was capable of 110 kW, and had a maximum torque of 210 newton metres (155 ft·lbf). It was introduced in the Passat in 1997, and the Golf and Bora in 1999.
Further modifications were added to the design in 1999, with the introduction of the 24-valve
Multi-valve
In automotive engineering a multi-valve or multivalve engine is one where each cylinder has more than two valves. A multi-valve engine has better breathing and can operate at higher revolutions per minute than a two-valve engine, delivering more power.- Multi-valve rationale :A multi-valve design...
2.8 litre VR6. This engine produced 150 kW, and 265 newton metres (195 ft·lbf) of torque. The new version was not available in the Passat (as it was incompatible with the then-current generation's longitudinal engine
Longitudinal engine
In automotive engineering, a longitudinal engine is an internal combustion engine in which the crankshaft is oriented along the long axis of the vehicle, front to back....
layout), but was introduced as the range-topper in the Golf and Bora for European markets. The VR6 name was dropped as a commercial designation, and the 4WD system (now renamed 4motion
4motion
4motion is a registered trademark of Volkswagen AG, used exclusively on Volkswagen-branded automobiles which utilise four-wheel drive systems. Volkswagen has previously used the term "Syncro" for its 4WD models....
) became standard on the V6 (VR6) in Europe. The corresponding multi-valve V5 was only released in 2001, with a 20 PS power increase, to 125 kW. The multi-valve V6 (VR6) was introduced in North America in 2001 aboard the T4 Eurovan, producing 150 kW, and in the GTI in 2002 (where it retained the VR6 name).
In 1999, an updated 12-valve VR6 model was released for the North American market A4-platform Golf Mk4
Volkswagen Golf Mk4
Launched in 1999, the Volkswagen Golf Mk4 was the best selling car in Europe in 2001 . The Mk4 was a deliberate attempt to take the Volkswagen Golf series further upmarket, with a high-quality interior and higher equipment levels...
/GTI
Volkswagen Golf
The Volkswagen Golf is a small family car manufactured by Volkswagen since 1974 and marketed worldwide across six generations, in various body configurations and under various nameplates – as the Volkswagen Rabbit in the United States and Canada , and as the Volkswagen Caribe in Mexico .The...
/Jetta
Volkswagen Jetta
Although the Golf had reached considerable success, in the North American markets, Volkswagen observed that the hatchback body style lacked some of the appeal to those who preferred the traditional three-box configuration...
product line. This new VR6 improved performance via updated camshaft
Camshaft
A camshaft is a shaft to which a cam is fastened or of which a cam forms an integral part.-History:An early cam was built into Hellenistic water-driven automata from the 3rd century BC. The camshaft was later described in Iraq by Al-Jazari in 1206. He employed it as part of his automata,...
s, variable geometry intake manifold
Variable Length Intake Manifold
In internal combustion engines, a variable length intake manifold , or variable intake manifold is an automobile internal combustion engine manifold technology...
, an increased compression ratio of 10.5:1, and updated emissions equipment. Power increased to 130 kW at 5,800 rpm
Revolutions per minute
Revolutions per minute is a measure of the frequency of a rotation. It annotates the number of full rotations completed in one minute around a fixed axis...
, while torque increased to 245 newton metres (181 ft·lbf) at 3,200 rpm. This engine option was available from 1999.5—2002, when it was replaced by the 24-valve engine.
In 2001, the VR6 was enlarged to 3.2 litre
Litre
pic|200px|right|thumb|One litre is equivalent to this cubeEach side is 10 cm1 litre water = 1 kilogram water The litre is a metric system unit of volume equal to 1 cubic decimetre , to 1,000 cubic centimetres , and to 1/1,000 cubic metre...
s, to create a limited-production, high performance, 168 kW version of the New Beetle
Volkswagen New Beetle
-Specifications:*Dimension:**Length: **Width: **Height: **Wheelbase: **Curb weight: *Max speed: 177–210 km/h *Acceleration : 6.5-13.2 sec-Body styles:-Engine choices:-Safety:...
called Beetle RSi. The Beetle RSi was the first production vehicle to use the 3.2 litre
Litre
pic|200px|right|thumb|One litre is equivalent to this cubeEach side is 10 cm1 litre water = 1 kilogram water The litre is a metric system unit of volume equal to 1 cubic decimetre , to 1,000 cubic centimetres , and to 1/1,000 cubic metre...
24-valve
Multi-valve
In automotive engineering a multi-valve or multivalve engine is one where each cylinder has more than two valves. A multi-valve engine has better breathing and can operate at higher revolutions per minute than a two-valve engine, delivering more power.- Multi-valve rationale :A multi-valve design...
VR6 engine. This engine was later used in the Mk4 Golf R32, and was also introduced in the original Audi TT
Audi TT
The Audi TT is a two-door sports car manufactured by the German automaker and Volkswagen Group subsidiary Audi since 1998.The Audi TT has been produced in two generations. Both generations have been available in two car body styles; as a 2+2 Coupé, or two-seater Roadster...
. According to Volkswagen Group, these variants produced 184 kW in TT trim (engine ID code: BHE), and 177 kW in R32 trim (engine ID code: BFH/BML).
The range-topping 3.2 litre VR6 was later used in the current Audi A3
Audi A3
The Audi A3 is a small family car produced by the German automaker Audi since 1996. Two generations of A3 exist, both based on the Volkswagen Group A platform, which they share with several other models such as the Audi TT, Volkswagen Golf, Volkswagen Caddy and Volkswagen Touran as well as SEAT...
and the Mk5 Golf R32.
In 2005, the European market version of Volkswagen's sixth generation Passat, now with a transverse engine layout, went on sale with a revised version of the 3.2 litre VR6 as its top-spec engine. For North America, the Passat received a new 3.6 litre VR6 with a narrower 10.6 degree cylinder angle, producing 206 kW. These revised 3.2 and 3.6 feature Fuel Stratified Injection
Gasoline direct injection
In internal combustion engines, gasoline direct injection , also known as petrol direct injection or direct petrol injection, is a variant of fuel injection employed in modern two-stroke and four-stroke gasoline engines...
(FSI). This new 3.2 FSI VR6 develops 184 kW at 6,250 rpm, and 330 newton metres (243 ft·lbf)at 3,000 rpm. The introduction of the Passat VR6 also marked the first time a VR6 powered vehicle was made available in North America before Europe.
The new Passat R36, available from early 2008, received an uprated version of the 3.6 FSI VR6 engine, with 220 kW at 6,600 rpm and 350 newton metres (258 ft·lbf) at 2,400 rpm, standard 4motion four-wheel drive, and standard Direct-Shift Gearbox
Direct-Shift Gearbox
The Direct-Shift Gearbox , commonly abbreviated to DSG, is an electronically controlled dual clutch multiple-shaft manual gearbox, in a transaxle design - without a conventional clutch pedal, and with full automatic, or semi-manual control...
(DSG).
The first generation Porsche Cayenne base model is powered by a 3.2-liter VR6 engine producing 250 hp (190 kW); modifications in the exhaust manifold allow power to peak at 6700 rpm. This is the same 3.2-liter motor found on a Volkswagen Touareg and Volkswagen R32.
VR6
The VR6 engine was used by Volkswagen in:- Volkswagen Golf Mk3Volkswagen Golf Mk3The third-generation Volkswagen Golf Mk3 was a car launched in Europe in November 1991 , and in North America in the spring of 1993. The delay in North America was due to Volkswagen's decision to supply U.S. and Canadian dealerships with Mk3 Golfs from the VW plant in Puebla, Mexico...
- Volkswagen Golf Mk4Volkswagen Golf Mk4Launched in 1999, the Volkswagen Golf Mk4 was the best selling car in Europe in 2001 . The Mk4 was a deliberate attempt to take the Volkswagen Golf series further upmarket, with a high-quality interior and higher equipment levels...
- Volkswagen Golf Mk5Volkswagen Golf Mk5The fifth generation Volkswagen Golf Mk5 , built on the Volkswagen Group A5 platform was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in October 2003 and went on sale in Europe one month later. To commemorate this, Wolfsburg was renamed "Golfsburg" for a week. It reached North American markets in June...
- Volkswagen Vento/Volkswagen Jetta Mk3
- Volkswagen Bora/Volkswagen Jetta Mk4
- Volkswagen Jetta Mk6 (possibly)
- Volkswagen New BeetleVolkswagen New Beetle-Specifications:*Dimension:**Length: **Width: **Height: **Wheelbase: **Curb weight: *Max speed: 177–210 km/h *Acceleration : 6.5-13.2 sec-Body styles:-Engine choices:-Safety:...
- Volkswagen CorradoVolkswagen CorradoThe Volkswagen Corrado is a hatchback coupé developed by German automaker Volkswagen and built by Karmann in Osnabrück, Germany, between 1 September 1988 and 31 July 1995....
- Volkswagen PassatVolkswagen PassatThe Volkswagen Passat is a large family car marketed by Volkswagen Passenger Cars through six design generations since 1973. Between the Volkswagen Golf / Volkswagen Jetta and the Volkswagen Phaeton in the current Volkswagen line-up, the Passat and its derivatives have been badged variously as...
(B3, B4, and B6 chassis) - Volkswagen Passat CCVolkswagen Passat CCThe Volkswagen Passat CC is a 4-door coupé version of the Volkswagen Passat. It debuted in January 2008 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit...
- Volkswagen PhaetonVolkswagen PhaetonThe Volkswagen Phaeton is a full-size luxury sedan/saloon manufactured by German automaker Volkswagen, and is described by Volkswagen as their "premium class" vehicle...
- Volkswagen TouaregVolkswagen TouaregThe Volkswagen Touareg is a mid-size crossover SUV produced by German automaker Volkswagen since 2002. The vehicle was named after the Tuareg people, a Berber-speaking group in North Africa...
- Volkswagen SharanVolkswagen SharanThe Volkswagen Sharan is a large MPV produced by the German automaker Volkswagen since 1995.-First generation :The name Sharan is derived from a Persian word meaning "Carrier of Kings"....
/ SEAT AlhambraSEAT AlhambraThe SEAT Alhambra is a large 7-seat MPV by the Volkswagen Group, sold under the SEAT brand.The Alhambra already spans two generations since 1996, and both of them are built at the AutoEuropa plant in Palmela, Portugal...
/ Ford GalaxyFord GalaxyThe first Galaxy was designed as a joint venture product between Ford and the Volkswagen Group. Produced at the joint-venture AutoEuropa plant in Palmela, Portugal, the vehicle was badge-engineered to create three vehicles: the Ford Galaxy; by Volkswagen Passenger Cars as the Volkswagen Sharan;... - Volkswagen Transporter/Caravelle/MultivanVolkswagen TransporterThe Volkswagen Transporter, based on the Volkswagen Group's T platform, now in its fifth generation, refers to a series of vans produced over 60 years and marketed worldwide....
T4 and T5 - Ford GalaxyFord GalaxyThe first Galaxy was designed as a joint venture product between Ford and the Volkswagen Group. Produced at the joint-venture AutoEuropa plant in Palmela, Portugal, the vehicle was badge-engineered to create three vehicles: the Ford Galaxy; by Volkswagen Passenger Cars as the Volkswagen Sharan;...
- Volkswagen Passat NMS
The VR6 is also used in other Volkswagen Group products, namely:
- Audi A3Audi A3The Audi A3 is a small family car produced by the German automaker Audi since 1996. Two generations of A3 exist, both based on the Volkswagen Group A platform, which they share with several other models such as the Audi TT, Volkswagen Golf, Volkswagen Caddy and Volkswagen Touran as well as SEAT...
Mk2 - Audi TTAudi TTThe Audi TT is a two-door sports car manufactured by the German automaker and Volkswagen Group subsidiary Audi since 1998.The Audi TT has been produced in two generations. Both generations have been available in two car body styles; as a 2+2 Coupé, or two-seater Roadster...
both generations - Audi Q7Audi Q7The Audi Q7 is a full-size luxury crossover SUV unveiled in September 2005 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Production of the Q7 began in autumn of 2005 in Bratislava, Slovakia. It is the first SUV offering from Audi and went on sale in 2007. Later, Audi's second SUV, the Q5, was unveiled as a 2009...
- Porsche CayennePorsche CayenneThe Porsche Cayenne is a five seat mid-size luxury crossover manufactured by the German manufacturer Porsche since 2002, with North American sales beginning in 2003. Its platform was developed by Porsche and is shared with the Volkswagen Touareg and the Audi Q7. It is the first V8-engined vehicle...
- SEAT LeónSEAT LeónThe SEAT León is a small family car built by the Spanish car manufacturer, and Volkswagen Group subsidiary SEAT, S.A. since October 1998.The two León generations are, or have been built upon two differing variants of the Volkswagen Group A platform, and they also share many other components with...
- Škoda Superb (B6, 3T)
VR5
The VR5 was used by in the following Volkswagen Group products:- Volkswagen Golf Mk4Volkswagen Golf Mk4Launched in 1999, the Volkswagen Golf Mk4 was the best selling car in Europe in 2001 . The Mk4 was a deliberate attempt to take the Volkswagen Golf series further upmarket, with a high-quality interior and higher equipment levels...
- Volkswagen Bora
- Volkswagen Passat (B5)
- Volkswagen New BeetleVolkswagen New Beetle-Specifications:*Dimension:**Length: **Width: **Height: **Wheelbase: **Curb weight: *Max speed: 177–210 km/h *Acceleration : 6.5-13.2 sec-Body styles:-Engine choices:-Safety:...
- SEAT ToledoSEAT ToledoThe second generation Toledo was introduced in 1998 and made its debut at the 1998 Paris Motor Show as a four-door notchback sedan. It was more rounded than the previous first generation shape and had a much more fluid design, although both were products of Giorgetto Giugiaro's Italdesign studio...
Mk2
Other applications of "VR" technology
Volkswagen Group has also developed a series of engines which combine two narrow angle "V" cylinder banks mated together at 72 degrees. These compound VR engines are referred to as "W engineW engine
A W engine is a type of reciprocating engine arranged with its cylinders in a configuration in which the cylinder banks resemble the letter W, in the same way those of a V engine resemble the letter V....
s" by VW Group. For example, two VR6 banks mated together at 72 degrees result in a W12 engine
W12 engine
A W12 engine is a twelve cylinder piston internal combustion engine in a W configuration. W12 engines are manufactured in two distinct configurations. One configuration uses four rows of three cylinders merged into two 'cylinder banks' , coupled to a common crankshaft - as in Volkswagen Group W12...
configuration, which is significantly shorter than a conventional V12 engine
V12 engine
A V12 engine is a V engine with 12 cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of six cylinders, usually but not always at a 60° angle to each other, with all 12 pistons driving a common crankshaft....
, but only marginally wider. W8 engine
W8 engine
A W8 engine is an eight-cylinder piston internal combustion engine in a W configuration.The W8 can be imagined as flat plane crank V8 engine combining two narrow-angle V4 engine blocks, mounted juxtaposed at 72 degrees to each other and coupled to one crankshaft...
and W16 engine
W16 engine
A W16 engine is a sixteen cylinder piston internal combustion engine in a four-bank W configuration. All W16 engines consist of two 'offset double-row' banks of eight cylinders, coupled to a single crankshaft....
designs were developed in a similar fashion. The W8 uses two four-cylinder "VR4" banks mated together, and the W16 combines two "VR8" banks.