There are few engines more iconic than the Volkswagen Group VR6. The six-cylinder block in a “narrow V” arrangement quickly won over the public due to its refined operation and performance. Even if you thought it had been extinct for a long time, it was not until last December 12 when stopped being manufactured forever. It has been a long-standing success story, having been on the market for 34 years and almost 1.87 million units produced since its launch in 1991.
It was at the Geneva Motor Show that year when it was presented at the Volkswagen Golf VR6. In that year it also moved on to highly renowned models such as the Passat or the Corrado. That first iteration of the VR6 engine had 2.8 liters of displacement and 174 HP of power, although over time there were larger sizes and higher power levels. The list of cars that have carried it at this stage is extensive, as it has been used by other Volkswagens and also by models from other brands such as Audi or Porsche.
What is peculiar about the VR6 engine?
That we talk about a VR6 engine and not a V6 is due to the arrangement of its cylinders. In a V engine we see two banks of three cylinders that face each other at wide angles, which usually range from 45º to 90º. However, Volkswagen sought to create a compact block, which was ideal for transverse positioning in front-wheel drive vehicles. That’s why your narrow V or VR engine has opposite banks. at angles from 10.6º to 15º. That is what made it possible for them to be installed in four-cylinder engine bays.
It also has some technical peculiarities and that is that this type of mechanics allows some only a cylinder bank and a cylinder head. These elements are shared due to their proximity, something that is not possible in a conventional V6, which has its two cylinder banks and two separate cylinder heads. The provision also allows use two camshafts instead of four, which simplifies the engine. Throughout its history there were VR6s with 12 valves (two shafts with six cams each) and also 24 valves (maintaining two shafts with twelve cams each).
VR6 engine evolution
We already mentioned that the first VR6 was a 2.8 liter with 174 HP and 240 Nm, more than respectable power levels for the 90s. However, Volkswagen Group knew how to see the potential of the engine and more capable versions were released over time. It was always kept without turbocharging, although there were variants of 2.9 liters, 3.0 liters, 3.2 liters and even 3.6 liters. In the first 2.8 liter equipped with the Golf MKIII and Bora, the power rose to 204 HP and all-wheel drive was added for the models equipped with the mechanics.
At the turn of the millennium, the 3.2-liter VR6 became popular in the Golf R32with its 250 hp and it also extended to the first generation Audi TT and the top of the range Audi A3. It was present in other examples such as the Volkswagen Phaeton or the New Beetle RSi, in addition to the Touareg. Later it would reach the Volkswagen Passat, although that was the model that also saw the most capable version of the mechanics. The 3.6-liter VR6 (ported by the Passat R36) would reach up to 300 HP and 350 Nm of torque. Depending on the market, it was also mounted on the Volkswagen CC, the Porsche Cayenne or the Audi Q7.
Although for many it seemed like an extinct engine, the VR6 was still I live in some specific regions. Emissions regulations have made it impossible to maintain it in Europe, but there are other less restrictive markets. Until relatively recently it continued to be sold in North America with the Volkswagen Atlas and there have also been a modernized version in China. There was a 2.5-liter turbo VR6 that has little to do with the original, but that maintained good power levels in its own models such as the Volkswagen Teramont and Talagon.
Influence of the VR6 engine
The development of the VR6 engine responded to the need to make category engines for smaller models, although it also laid the first stone for other equally curious mechanics. The narrow V with reduced angles gave life to the VR5 or V5 engine simply. It was born in 1997 as a result of removing a cylinder from the VR6 of the time and took the odd scheme to a new level. With 2.3 liters and 150 HP it was mounted on models such as the Passat, the Golf or the Bora (plus the SEAT Toledo) and even had an evolution.
Also inspired W engines of the brand. As a result of the union of two VR6s at an angle of 72º, an engine was obtained W12 which had a much more compact size than the traditional V12. At that time, Volkswagen had the ability to create and the W12 that became famous at Bentley was not the only one. He W8 It was the result of joining two four-cylinder VRs and, although it was not very popular, it was present in the Passat. He W16 followed the same pattern by joining two W8s to achieve superior performance. Let them tell Bugatti, who has been putting it together until very recently…
