Volkswagen kills the VR6

[TiGeo]

Not a fan of smaller engines with turbos, give me a Hemi V8 or a Jeep inline 6.

Yeah but hard to argue with the easy power. My 1.8L VW turbo makes 400 hp with nothing but a larger OEM turbo and some software. Amazing what the modern turbos can do with v. little lag. I had the 4.0L in my '00 Cherokee and have had an American muscle car V8, each has their place but nothing like blowing the doors off someone in a V8 with a 1.8...then telling them what just beat them

 

[Oliveoil2]

the VR6 is thirsty and, made by VW. Also expensive to maintain.

 

[RooflessVW]

the VR6 is thirsty and, made by VW. Also expensive to maintain.

Yes, yes, and not really.

 

[TiGeo]

the VR6 is thirsty and, made by VW. Also expensive to maintain.

Yes. Yes. How specifically?

 

[Oliveoil2]

Yes. Yes. How specifically?

Have a read. This could be wrong but it makes sense. My friend had a VR6 GTI and it just soaked him for money. Although the engine was less problematic than the rest of the car, he complained about how much it costs him to maintain.

 

[TiGeo]

Have a read. This could be wrong but it makes sense. My friend had a VR6 GTI and it just soaked him for money. Although the engine was less problematic than the rest of the car, he complained about how much it costs him to maintain.

Modern versions are fine. Older ones had the "crack pipe" issue and timing chains.

 

[CKN]

You bet it is. I was car shopping a few months ago and it was so disappointing to see all of the anemic powerplants. And, they're all so expensive. It was demotivating to have so few options.

OK-what vehicles were you looking at? What were the zero to 60's times of the vehicles?

 

[dishdude]

I also just saw the new pricing on the Golf R ..... 50K.

Golf R's were in the $40k's when I looked at them 10 years ago.

 

[OVERKILL]

The RAM V8 has an electric assist motor and the other has 2 more cylinders and twin turbo. I think my Mazda does pretty good then!

The e-Torque doesn't improve the performance, it's just fancy start/stop (hence it not being additive to the power #'s), but yeah, the curb weight is the equalizer, just pointing out that they perform pretty similarly

That 3.0L Hurricane engine is packing some serious performance, particularly in H/O trim.

 

[wemay]

Oh boy, this is unfortunate. The VR6 takes me back to 1995 when I owned a GTi VR6 and subsequent cars like Jetta GLX and Corrado SLC. There was no bigger a fan of VW than I was back then. "The King is dead, long live the King". My 2 cents.

 

[TiGeo]

Oh boy, this is unfortunate. The VR6 takes me back to 1995 when I owned a GTi VR6 and subsequent cars like Jetta GLX and Corrado SLC. There was no bigger a fan of VW than I was back then. "The King is dead, long live the King". My 2 cents.

I remember looking at a new Corrado around 93 and was blown away by a 6 cylinder in a car like this.

 

[Dave Hess]

VW is in bad shape and major cost cutting down the line.

 

[Dave Hess]

Oh boy, this is unfortunate. The VR6 takes me back to 1995 when I owned a GTi VR6 and subsequent cars like Jetta GLX and Corrado SLC. There was no bigger a fan of VW than I was back then. "The King is dead, long live the King". My 2 cents.

I had a friend that was also crazy about the VR6 and always talked about this technology.

Back then I had a 1996 Corvette and wondered why didn’t VW just design a small V8.

 

[JeffKeryk]

From a business standpoint, VW's problems include:
High production costs (labor + energy) resulting in poor margins. This makes them susceptible to market fluctuation (declining demand). "Cash is King" and VW has cash flow problems.
Management changes creating fostering lack of direction.

Oh yeah, and they are getting killed in the China market, which they are very dependent on. They need a competitive EV.

Everything changes.

 

[Snagglefoot]

Here are two quick screen shots of the VR6 layout. I recall it had a single head for the V6. Looking at the diagram shows how easy that would be.

 

[andrew_j]

Personally found such a weird choice for Atlas not because a bad engine except way too thirsty for 2018+ standards.

 

[edyvw]

Have a read. This could be wrong but it makes sense. My friend had a VR6 GTI and it just soaked him for money. Although the engine was less problematic than the rest of the car, he complained about how much it costs him to maintain.

WHat makes sense? How many VW's you owned and what issues you had?

 

[TheLastWord]

I had a friend that was also crazy about the VR6 and always talked about this technology.

Back then I had a 1996 Corvette and wondered why didn’t VW just design a small V8.

For starters, Europe taxes cars based on displacement. And many more reasons.

That great VR6 was also used in a lot of small RV's where torque, not speed, was important.

 

[edyvw]

The problem was and still is "dieselgate." It cost VW $42bln, and that money had to come from somewhere. They became too scared and started to make short-term decisions that now have serious financial effects.
1. They stopped investing in ICE. They were under the impression that EVs are coming super fast and that ICE is pretty much dead. EVs are on the decline in Europe and elsewhere (not China), and while the future is definitely EV, it will be some time. Trends and "coolnes" won't win the day. It needs to be a generational change. BMW 5 years ago said that their plan was to keep ICE until 2050, and that was at the time when everyone thought EVs would rule the roads in 2025. EU policy will change. There is too much economic instability created by Euro norms, and if the union wants to survive, they will have to start making compromises. WHile Europeans are more aware of climate change than here, going EV too fast will kill jobs super fast while not allowing other industries to absorb that workforce. Between climate change and paycheck, people will choose paycheck. It is really not that difficult choice.
2. They are the victim of dumb German energy policy. Clean at home, dirty beyond borders. Cheap Russian gas and belief that they can change Russia (because of arrogance, ego, hubris).
3. They panicked and started to make dumb decisions. Cheapened products (they ruined Audi). They have hybrid products in EU but they did not bring them to the US. The biggest mistake with Atlas was not that they put VR6, but that they did not put EA390 2.5 VR6 turbo DDPK and DDKA engine in American Atlas. 2.5 VR6 was tuned for 299hp and 369lb-ft of torque. We got an EA390 3.6ltr VR6 that was the thirsty engine in 2007, let alone in 2018. I drove that engine numerous times, checking it when I was on the market for Atlas, and I found that the 2.0T was far better suited here at altitude. If they went with a 2.5 VR6, they would have something unique, something for VW enthusiasts that want a bit more, because Atlas as a vehicle is, IMO the best family SUV when it comes to practicality. However, I think the issue I had with it (windshield cracking) is a consequence of this panic and creating a product too fast to fill the void in the market.
VW will survive, but the question is what is that going to look like? Oh and by the way, they just cut 35,000 jobs.

 

[Thermo1223]

I was in awe of it in a MKIV Jetta from an engineering standpoint in my youth. A luxury compact sedan with power to boot.

If I ever came into some throw away money. A MKIV R32 would become a garage queen for me. Such a great sounding engine.