VR6 engine | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Production | 1991–present |
Layout | |
Displacement | 2.5–3.6 L (153–220 cu in) |
Valvetrain | 1991–2002: 12 valves 1999–present: 24 valves |
Combustion | |
Fuel type | Petrol |
The VR6 engine is a six-cylinder engine configuration developed by Volkswagen. The name VR6 comes from the combination of German words “V-Motor” and “Reihenmotor” meaning “inline engine” referring to the VR-engine having characteristics of both a V-layout and a inline layout. It was developed specifically for transverse engine installations and FWD (front-wheel drive) vehicles. The VR6 is a highly compact engine, thanks to the narrower angle of 10.5 to 15 degrees between cylinder banks, as opposed to the traditional V6 angles ranging from 45 to 90 degrees. The compact design is cheaper to manufacture, since only one cylinder head is required for all six cylinders, much like a traditional inline-6 engine.
Volkswagen Group introduced the first VR6 engine in 1991 and VR6 engines remain in production today. Volkswagen also produced a five-cylinder VR5 engine based on the VR6.