re: 30V Excitement - Why not 24V sooner?

[Eliot Lim <eliot@u.washington.edu>]

>	As soon as I heard about the Audi V6 five years ago, I knew they
>	would come out with a multi-valve version later (although I
>	thought it would take 6 months - not six years). 

>	Anybody know why Audi didn't initially start the V6 program with a
>	24 valve version?


the 4 valve head used on various cars (GTI 16V, 90Q20V, V8)  had a pretty
weak low end.  the 5 valve is a big improvement in this area.  i suspect
that the 24 valve V6 would have been too thirsty. 

VW redesigned the 4 valve head with much better low end and mid range for
the current generation GTI 16V, but since this model is not imported here
even american VW fanatics are unaware of its existence. 

i strongly suspect that this new 4 valve head is in use on the V8 engine
that powers the A8.  if you compare the torque/output figures between the
first generation 3.6 V8 and the current 3.7 V8 on the fwd A8 you'll find
much better torque figures.  i've also ridden in the 3.7 A8 and it pulls
in a way that would put the old V8 to shame.

so why didn't VW/Audi simply use 5 valve heads across the range of
engines? 

the same reason why they have so many different 150 bhp engines:  big
corporation inefficiency i would suspect.

let's see, we have the 
	
	2.6 liter 12V V6, 
	1.8 liter 20V turbo 4, 
	2.0 liter 16V 4,
	2.0 (?) liter VR5
	
might have been one more in the list that i can't remember right now...

	
>	Should us old 12valvers be thinking about exchanging the 12V for
>	new 30Vs come time for the first major overhaul? 

if i were you i'd wait for the twin turbo 30V V6, coming out in europe
end of this year...

actually i've given up waiting for audi to come up with a hot rod..
with the depressing resale value of the v8 i've opted to run it to
the ground while putting down an order for the last of the air cooled
"ass engined nazi slot cars".


eliot