VW-Audi/Porsche Engine WTF

[Northern924]

Plus lets just remember something, that block and basic engine design didn't die with the 924, its lived on right into the 90's in the Audi coupe..... Even in 1995 Audi were still selling the coupe with the same 1984cc block, even the 2.3's were the same block.
As someone has said VW/Audi engines are pretty much bombproof and will very much out last the rest of the car, why not use that kind of reliability

 

[944 man]

I believe that the 1.8l 5v turbo uses the same block too.

 

[sawood12]

ORIGINAL: Northern924

As someone has said VW/Audi engines are pretty much bombproof and will very much out last the rest of the car, why not use that kind of reliability

True - though the reality is that it is probably the decision of the bean counters rather than the engineers to keep utilising this block. A fantastic run of service though showing the talents of various engineers to keep designing all the ancillaries around the block to keep it current. It is no coincidence that pretty much any VW/Audi and Porsche engine will mate upto pretty much all the gearboxes. Wasn't there some form of agreement between Mr VW and Mr Porsche about Porsche having access to the VW parts bin?

 

[pauljmcnulty]

Wasn't there some form of agreement between Mr VW and Mr Porsche about Porsche having access to the VW parts bin?

More than that, trying to secure continued access to VW parts caused Porsche to try to take over VW, then nearly go bust and be incorporated in to the VW fold. Causing the loss of some very senior jobs and the resolving of a long-standing family feud.

Porsche cars are full of VW parts, and all the better for it. Just as Audi, Lamborghini etc. Just as the only parts on an old Aston that still work come from a Granada. [8|]

 

[diabloam]

Porsche like Lotus do a lot of subcontracting consultancy engineering. You can add several other manufacturers engine to the list that Porsche have had a hand in. Volvo T5 (5 cylinder) porsche had a hand in that, which is now being used in the top line focus RS's, also think they were involved in developing the old ford iron block V6 boat anchor cologne into the super smooth scorpio 24v engine along with cosworth and I am pretty sure they have been involved with other ford engines as well.

VW engines are almost universally great (the VR6 is actually one of there worst ones with know bore wear issues and a stupid cam chain set up which is huge mission to change as its on the gearbox end and it does snap) and there is certainly no shame in borrowing parts from other manufacturers. I mean I like the TVR Chimaera for its old school hairy chested laughs, but recall the back lights being upside down cavalier units, lol. Saves the manufacturers a fortune and goes on all the time (even more so these days) and loads of brand snob people arent aware of it and these types are always fun to wind up, and these types are the usual ones who come out with saying the 924 engine is a vw van engine, lol.

 

[Mike_Pollock]

TVR are and always have been the masters of parts bin plundering!

 

[vincematthews]

According to an article in 911 & PW, the 924 engine had the following developments:

924 n/a - 125 bhp
924 turbo - 170 then 177 bhp
924 Carrera GT - 210 bhp (only 406 made)
924 Carrera GTS - 245 bhp (only 59 made)
924 Carrera GTR - 375 bhp (only 19 made)

After all that who could possibly say that the two-litre, cast iron block, engine is a whimp . . .

My understanding is that what forced Porsche into designing their own 2.5 litre 8v engine was Audi saying they were going to phase the engine out?

 

[Mike_Pollock]

Yes, Porsche realised that making the block in the numbers they required was going to become uneccomonic for Audi, and also early in 924 production when it became clear that it was selling well Porsche did what they are good at, listened to customers complaints about lack of power and importantly lack of refinement, and as they had the money coming in designed their own engine.

The 924 Turbo was a great headliner but not easy to drive, turbo lag etc, and a little delicate, so a N/A engine making similar peak power but in a more user friendly way was the goal.