VR6 engines are V6 piston engines with a narrow angle between the

cylinder bank The engine configuration describes the fundamental operating principles by which internal combustion engines are categorized. Piston engines are often categorized by their cylinder layout, valves and camshafts. Wankel engines are often categorize ...

s and a single

cylinder head In an internal combustion engine, the cylinder head (often abbreviated to simply "head") sits above the cylinders and forms the roof of the combustion chamber. In sidevalve engines, the head is a simple sheet of metal; whereas in more modern ov ...

covering both banks of cylinders.

Volkswagen Group Volkswagen AG (), known internationally as the Volkswagen Group, is a German multinational automotive manufacturer headquartered in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, Germany. The company designs, manufactures and distributes passenger and commercial ...

introduced the first VR6 engine in 1991 and VR6 engines currently remain in production. From 1997 to 2006,

Volkswagen Volkswagen (),English: , . abbreviated as VW (), is a German Automotive industry, motor vehicle manufacturer headquartered in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, Germany. Founded in 1937 by the German Labour Front under the Nazi Party and revived into a ...

also produced a five-cylinder

VR5 engine The VR5 engines are a family of petroleum fuelled Internal combustion engines developed by the Volkswagen Group and produced from 1997 to 2006. They are derived from the VR6 engine family, also developed by Volkswagen, but with one less cylinder. ...

based on the VR6.

Description

The name VR6 comes from the

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

initials for a

V engine A V engine, sometimes called a Vee engine, is a common configuration for internal combustion engines. It consists of two cylinder banks—usually with the same number of cylinders in each bank—connected to a common crankshaft. These cylinder ...

(German: ''V-Motor'') and a straight (inline) engine (German: ''Reihenmotor''), therefore the VR engine is described as a "Vee-Inline engine" (VR-Motor). VR6 engines share a common

for the two banks of cylinders. Only two

camshaft A camshaft is a shaft that contains a row of pointed cams, in order to convert rotational motion to reciprocating motion. Camshafts are used in piston engines (to operate the intake and exhaust valves), mechanically controlled ignition systems ...

s are needed for the

engine An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert one or more forms of energy into mechanical energy. Available energy sources include potential energy (e.g. energy of the Earth's gravitational field as exploited in hydroelectric power gen ...

, regardless of whether the engine has two or four valves per cylinder. This simplifies engine construction and reduces costs. Since the cylinders are not located on the centreline of the combined cylinder head, the lengths of the

intake An intake (also inlet) is an opening, structure or system through which a fluid is admitted to a space or machine as a consequence of a pressure differential between the outside and the inside. The pressure difference may be generated on the ins ...

and exhaust ports are different for each bank. Without compensation, these varying port lengths would result in the two banks of cylinders producing different amounts of power at a particular engine RPM. The difference in port lengths are compensated for with the length of the runners in the

intake manifold In automotive engineering, an inlet manifold or intake manifold (in American English) is the part of an engine that supplies the fuel/air mixture to the cylinders. The word ''manifold'' comes from the Old English word ''manigfeald'' (from the ...

, the camshaft overlap and lift profile, or a combination thereof.

Volkswagen engines

The Volkswagen VR6 engine was designed for

transverse engine A transverse engine is an engine mounted in a vehicle so that the engine's crankshaft axis is perpendicular to the direction of travel. Many modern front-wheel drive vehicles use this engine mounting configuration. Most rear-wheel drive vehicles ...

installations in

front-wheel drive Front-wheel drive (FWD) is a form of engine and 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 longit ...

vehicles. The narrow angle of 15° between the two

s reduced the width of the engine, compared to a traditional V6 engine. Therefore, the VR6 engine is easier to fit within an engine bay that was originally designed for a

four-cylinder engine The engine configuration describes the fundamental operating principles by which internal combustion engines are categorized. Piston engines are often categorized by their cylinder layout, valves and camshafts. Wankel engines are often categorize ...

12-valve versions

Early VR6 engines had two valves per cylinder (for a total of twelve valves) and used one camshaft for the intake and exhaust valves of each cylinder bank (without the use of rockers). The first Volkswagen VR6 engine uses the AAA version. It had a bore of and a stroke of , for a total

displacement Displacement may refer to: Physical sciences Mathematics and Physics *Displacement (geometry), is the difference between the final and initial position of a point trajectory (for instance, the center of mass of a moving object). The actual path ...

of . In 1994, a ABV version was introduced in some European countries, with an increased bore of . The V angle between the cylinder banks is 15°, and the

compression ratio The compression ratio is the ratio between the volume of the cylinder and combustion chamber in an internal combustion engine at their maximum and minimum values. A fundamental specification for such engines, it is measured two ways: the stati ...

is 10:1. The

crankshaft A crankshaft is a mechanical component used in a piston engine to convert the reciprocating motion into rotational motion. The crankshaft is a rotating shaft containing one or more crankpins, that are driven by the pistons via the connecting ...

runs in seven main bearings and the journals are offset 22° to one another, in order to accommodate the offset cylinder placement. This also allows the use of a 120° firing interval between cylinders. The

firing order The firing order of an internal combustion engine is the sequence of ignition for the cylinders. In a spark ignition (e.g. gasoline/petrol) engine, the firing order corresponds to the order in which the spark plugs are operated. In a diesel engi ...

is: 1, 5, 3, 6, 2, 4. The centerline of the cylinders are offset from the centerline of the crankshaft by . The valve sizes are for the intake and for the exhaust. Since the two 'rows' of pistons and cylinders share a single cylinder head and head gasket, the piston crown (or top surface) is tilted. The engine management system is Bosch Motronic.

24-valve versions

A version with four valves per cylinder (for a total of 24 valves) was introduced in 1999. The 24-valve versions use one camshaft for the intake valves of both banks (using rockers to reach the furthest bank) and the other camshaft for the exhaust valves of both banks (again, through the use of rockers). This operating principle is more akin to a

double overhead camshaft An overhead camshaft (OHC) engine is a piston engine where the camshaft is located in the cylinder head above the combustion chamber. This contrasts with earlier overhead valve engines (OHV), where the camshaft is located below the combustion cha ...

(DOHC) design, with one camshaft for intake valves, and one for exhaust valves.

History

The 1922-1976

Lancia V4 engine Italian automobile company Lancia was the first to manufacture cars with V4 and V6 engines in series-production. This started with a number of V4-engine families, that were produced from the 1920s through 1970s. The Lancia V4 pioneered the narr ...

was the first narrow angle V engine to be used in a motor vehicle. The first versions of the VR6 engine were introduced in the 1991 Volkswagen Passat B3 sedan and Volkswagen Corrado coupe. A AAA version producing was used in most Passat models and in the North American version of the Corrado. A ABV version producing was used in the ''Passat Syncro'' model and the European version of the Corrado. Both versions used 2 valves per cylinder. Usage of the VR6 engine spread to the

Volkswagen Golf Mk3 The Volkswagen Golf Mk3 is a medium-sized compact family car. The third generation of the Volkswagen Golf and the successor to the Volkswagen Golf Mk2, which was produced by Volkswagen from August 1991 (for the 1992 model year) to 2002 (for Cab ...

''2.8 VR6'' and Volkswagen Vento/Jetta (A3) ''2.8 VR6'' models in 1992. The 2.8 litre version was also used in the 1996-2003 Mercedes-Benz Vito (W638) commercial vans, where it was designated as 'M104.900'. In 1997, the

was introduced, based on the VR6 engine. An AQP/AUE version with 4 valves per cylinder was introduced in 2000. This engine produced , and mostly replaced the 2 valve engines, except for in North America where an updated version of the 2 valve engine was used in the Golf and Jetta from 2000 to 2002. A EA390 version of the 4 valve engine was introduced in the 2001

Volkswagen New Beetle The Volkswagen New Beetle is a compact car, introduced by Volkswagen in 1997, drawing heavy inspiration from the exterior design of the original Beetle. Unlike the original Beetle, the New Beetle has its engine in the front, driving the fron ...

''RSi'' model. This 3.2 litre engine was also used in the 2002-2004

Volkswagen Golf Mk4 The Volkswagen Golf Mk4 (or VW ''Type 1J'') is a compact car, the fourth generation of the Volkswagen Golf and the successor to the Volkswagen Golf Mk3. Launched in October 1997 for the 1998 model year, it was the best selling car in Europe in ...

''R32'' model and the 2003-2010 Audi TT ''3.2 VR6 quattro'' models. Peak power output was in the New Beetle and Golf (engine code BFH/BML), and in the Audi TT (engine code BHE). The engine size was again increased in 2005, when a version with

gasoline direct injection Gasoline direct injection (GDI), also known as petrol direct injection (PDI), is a mixture formation system for internal combustion engines that run on gasoline (petrol), where fuel is injected into the combustion chamber. This is distinct fro ...

(FSI) was introduced in the Volkswagen Passat (B6). This BLV version uses a narrower 10.6 degree angle between the cylinder banks and produces . A AXZ version producing was introduced in 2006. In 2008, an uprated ''BWS'' version of the 3.6 litre engine producing was introduced in the Volkswagen Passat (B6) ''R36'' model. The base model Porsche Cayenne (9PA) used 3.2-liter VR6 engine from 2003 to 2006 and then a 3.6-litre VR6 engine from 2008 to 2010. Then the next generation Porsche Cayenne (92A) also used a 3.6-litre VR6 engine from 2010 to 2018. Volkswagen had started to phase out VR engines in favour of downsized turbocharged engines, however the VR6 currently remains in production for the

Volkswagen Passat (NMS) The Volkswagen Passat for the North American and Chinese markets (internally designated ''Volkswagen New Midsize Sedan'', or ''NMS'' while under development) is a mid-size sedan that debuted in January 2011 at the Detroit Auto Show. It replaced ...

sedan models sold in China. In 2017, the VR6 engines made an unexpected comeback, with versions of the 24-valve VR6 engines being produced for the

Volkswagen Atlas The Volkswagen Atlas is a mid-size crossover SUV manufactured by the German automaker Volkswagen since 2017. Developed mainly for the North American and Chinese market, the vehicle is based on the Volkswagen Group MQB platform. Outside the US and ...

. Volkswagen also made brand new VR6 (still EA390) for Chinese market only, it's 2,5Litre Turbocharged 24v VR6 and 500 nm of torque for

Volkswagen Teramont The Volkswagen Atlas is a mid-size crossover SUV manufactured by the German automaker Volkswagen since 2017. Developed mainly for the North American and Chinese market, the vehicle is based on the Volkswagen Group MQB platform. Outside the US and ...

SUV and new

Volkswagen Talagon The Volkswagen Talagon () is a mid-size crossover SUV with three-row seating manufactured by the German automaker Volkswagen through FAW-Volkswagen FAW-Volkswagen Automobile Co., Ltd. is a joint venture between FAW Group and Volkswagen Group ...

MPV

Applications

Volkswagen Group automobiles: * 1991-1995 Volkswagen Corrado * 1991-2015

Volkswagen Passat The Volkswagen Passat is a series of D-segment, large family cars manufactured and marketed by the Germany, German automobile manufacturer Volkswagen since 1973, and now in its eighth generation. It has been marketed variously as the Dasher, Sa ...

B3, B4, B6 and B7 generations * 1992-1998

* 1992-1999 Volkswagen Vento/Volkswagen Jetta Mk3 * 1995-2000

Volkswagen Sharan The Volkswagen Sharan is a seven-seater minivan that was produced by the German Volkswagen Group and built at the AutoEuropa plant in Palmela, Portugal, with a front-wheel-drive version across two generations, from 1995 to 2022. Through badge engin ...

* 1996-2003

Volkswagen Transporter (T4) The Volkswagen Transporter (T4), marketed in North America as the Volkswagen EuroVan, is a van produced by the German manufacturer Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles between 1990 and 2004, succeeding the Volkswagen Type 2 (T3) and superseded by t ...

* 1996-2010 SEAT Alhambra (7M) * 1998-2003

* 1999-2005 Volkswagen Bora/Volkswagen Jetta Mk4 * 2000-2004 SEAT León (1M) * 2001-2003

RSi * 2002-2016

Volkswagen Phaeton The Volkswagen Phaeton ( ) (''Typ'' 3D) is a full-size luxury sedan/saloon manufactured by the German automobile manufacturer Volkswagen, described by Volkswagen as their "premium class" vehicle. Introduced at the 2002 Geneva Motor Show, the ...

* 2002-2018

Volkswagen Touareg The Volkswagen Touareg (German pronunciation: ) is a car produced by German automaker Volkswagen Group since 2002 at the Volkswagen Bratislava Plant. A five-seater mid-size luxury crossover SUV, the vehicle was named after the nomadic Tuareg peo ...

* 2002-2018

Porsche Cayenne The Porsche Cayenne is a series of mid-size luxury crossover sport utility vehicles manufactured by the German automaker Porsche since 2002 (Type 9PA or E1), with North American sales beginning in 2003. It is the first V8-engined vehicle built b ...

E1 and E2 generations * 2003-2009

Volkswagen Transporter (T5) The Volkswagen Transporter T5 range is the fifth generation of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VWCV/VWN) 'Transporter' series of medium-sized light commercial vehicles and the people mover Caravelle/Multivan range. It was launched 6 October 20 ...

* 2003-2013 Audi A3 (8P) * 2003-2010 Audi TT Mk1 and Mk2 * 2005-2008

Volkswagen Golf Mk5 The Volkswagen Golf Mk5 (codenamed ''Typ 1K'') is a compact car/small family car manufactured and marketed by Volkswagen, as the fifth generation of the Golf in three- or five-door hatchback (August 2003–2008) and a five-door station wagon ...

R32 * 2006-2011

Volkswagen Eos The Volkswagen Eos was a sport compact cabriolet coupé produced by the German automaker Volkswagen from 2006 to 2015. Assembled at AutoEuropa in Portugal, it was a convertible only compact coupé introduced as the successor of the Volkswagen Gol ...

* 2008-2017

Volkswagen CC The Volkswagen CC, originally marketed as the Volkswagen Passat CC in its first generation, is a variant of the Volkswagen Passat that trades headroom and cargo space for a coupé-like profile and sweeping roofline. The CC debuted in January 200 ...

* 2008-2010 Škoda Superb (3T) * 2008-2015 Audi Q7 (4L) * 2011-2018

Volkswagen Passat NMS The Volkswagen Passat for the North American and Chinese markets (internally designated ''Volkswagen New Midsize Sedan'', or ''NMS'' while under development) is a mid-size sedan that debuted in January 2011 at the Detroit Auto Show. It replaced ...

* 2017–present Volkswagen Atlas/Teramont * 2021–present

* 2022–present

Audi Q6 The Audi Q6 is a mid-size luxury crossover SUV with three-row seating produced by Audi Audi AG () is a German automotive manufacturer of luxury vehicles headquartered in Ingolstadt, Bavaria, Germany. As a subsidiary of its parent company ...

Other manufacturers: * 1995-2000 Ford Galaxy Mk I * 1996-2003 Mercedes-Benz Vito (W638) * 1997-2005 Winnebago Rialta/Vista/Itasca Sunstar * 2006- Yes! 2 * 2009-2012

Artega GT The Artega GT was a RMR layout, mid-engined, rear wheel drive 2-seat sports car produced by German automobile manufacturer Artega Automobile, Artega between 2009 and 2012. The ''GT'' was Artega's first model. A total of 153 units were produced. ...

* Linde Forklifts (fuelled by

Liquefied petroleum gas Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG or LP gas) is a fuel gas which contains a flammable mixture of hydrocarbon gases, specifically propane, propylene, butylene, isobutane and n-butane. LPG is used as a fuel gas in heating appliances, cooking e ...

)

W engines

Volkswagen Group has produced several 'W engines' based on combining two VR engines on a common crankshaft. The first W engine to reach production was the

W12 engine A W12 engine is a twelve-cylinder piston engine where three banks of four cylinders are arranged in a W configuration around a common crankshaft. W12 engines with three banks of four cylinders were used by several aircraft engines from 1917 unti ...

which has been produced since 2001. The W12 engine is constructed from two VR6 engines mated together at an angle of 72 degrees. Although Volkswagen has not produced a VR4 engine, nonetheless it briefly produced a

W8 engine A W8 engine is an eight-cylinder piston engine with four banks of two cylinders each, arranged in a W configuration. In practice, the W8 engine is created from two narrow-angle (15 degree) VR4 engines mounted at an angle of 72 degrees from e ...

from 2001 to 2004. The largest Volkswagen W engine is the

W16 engine A W16 engine is a sixteen-cylinder piston engine with four banks of four cylinders in a W configuration. W16 engines are rarely produced, with the notable exception of the Volkswagen Group 8.0 WR16 engine, which has been used since 2005 in the ...

introduced on the Bugatti Veyron in 2005. This engine uses an angle of 90 degrees between the two VR8 engines, and has four turbochargers.

Other manufacturers

Motorcycle manufacturer

Horex Horex is a German motorcycle manufacturer. It was founded in 1923 by Fritz Kleemann in Bad Homburg vor der Höhe in Hesse. From 1935 to the mid-1950s, the company operated as Horex-Columbus-Werk K.G.,then as Horex-Werke KG. The brand name Ho ...

has produced VR6 engines since 2012.

References

{{piston engine configurations Volkswagen Group engines Piston engine configurations V6 engines Gasoline engines by model 1991 introductions V engines