Audi of America will drop use of the Volkswagen-derived, narrow-angle VR6 six-cylinder engine for the 2010 model year.
The engine, which dates back to the '90s VW Corrado/Passat days, has grown to 3.2-liters over the years and produced 250 horsepower in the 2009 TT and A3. But the VR6 doesn't use direct-injection like Audi's newer engines (2.0T and 3.2 V6). The company will also drop the front-drive 2.0-liter turbo TT.
The company will also limit use of its more conventionally arranged 3.2-liter V6. The 265-hp V6 will no longer be available in the A4 sedan. Almost all A4s will be powered by the 2.0 turbo. The S4, that arrives later this year, will be the step up engine in the line. It will use the supercharged 3.0-liter that's just gone into the A6. It will be available in the A5 coupe, but only with the automatic transmission. In other A5 news, the ubiquitous 2.0T will be offered as the base engine in the two-door.
And you better get your order in for your V-10-powered S8 super-sedan soon because that model will be discontinued for the 2010 model year. The S6 carries on with the Lambo-sourced V10 and so does the R8 5.2 V10 which also arrives in the U.S. as a 2010 vehicle. And the range-topping, black-tie-wearing A8 W12 is dead too. Not a big surprise given that the car sold only about 100 units last year (no, we didn't forget a zero in that number).
HassanK says:
01:17 PM, 04/22/09
What were the numbers for that S8 W12? Was it sold in North America? Never seen one.
"the car sold only about 100 units last year" It's good to see most people were content with the more "normal" 450 horse V10 S8.
arm51 says:
01:43 PM, 04/22/09
I think 'S8 W12' is a mis-type...the only engine option on the S8 is the V10. The W12 in the A8 made 450 hp and 428 lbs. ft. of torque though.
roar02ram says:
02:39 PM, 04/22/09
Wow, so the A4 is now 4-cylinder only...unless you opt for the S4? Wow.
sandcountry360 says:
04:21 PM, 04/22/09
I'm a little confused. There were two 3.2 V6's? What Audi's still used the VR6? And now the TT will be available only as a 2.0T Quattro? Strange. Maybe they're counting on the 3.0 Diesel to fill in the gap, at least in the A4.
tryan says:
04:14 AM, 04/23/09
Sandcountry - The only VWAG (US) cars that currently use the VR6 (in any displacement format) are the A3, TT and Passat CC. In the past, the VR6 has seen employment in a wide range of transverse engined VWAG cars, such as the R32, Passat Sedan, EOS, and Jetta among others.
VWAG's persistent move to almost exclusively forced-induction engines is one of economical reasons, both from a fuel efficiency and production cost standpoint.
However, I will point out that the following statement is false:
"But the VR6 doesn't use direct-injection like Audi's newer engines"
The current crop of VR6 engines DO employ VWAG's FSI technology.
I, for one, would welcome an A5 or A4 powered by the TTS's 268HP Variant of the 2.0TFSI...=)