G60

The G60 is a supercharged straight-4 petrol engine manufactured by Volkswagen in the early 1990s. The engine displaced 1.8 L (1781 cc), had 8 valves (two per cylinder) and produced 160 PS (118 kW/158 hp). Although it was based on an existing engine, it underwent so many modifications it is usually regarded as a separate powerplant from others VW produced. It was named after the intricate "G-Lader" supercharger that it was mated to, this supercharger having a 60 mm wide displacer - hence the "G60" moniker.

The engine debuted in 1988 in the Corrado, which took 8.3 seconds to reach 100 km/h and had a maximum speed of 225 km/h (140 mph). In 1989 it was adapted for the Passat and the VW Golf Mk.II, in which it was capable of propelling the car to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 7.8 seconds, with a maximum speed of 216 km/h (134 mph). In the United States the engine was used only in the Corrado, and was dropped in 1992 in favor of the newer, more powerful VR6.

A low-production, all-wheel drive variant of the Golf G60 called the Golf Rallye was also powered by the 8-valve G60, but the engine was reduced to 1763 cc for sports homologation purposes. Power remained 160 PS. A 16-valve G60 engine was used in the ultra-rare Golf Limited, of which only 71 were produced, all with four-wheel drive. Power was raised to 210 PS (154 kW/207 hp), and the car could now reach 100 km/h in 6.4 seconds, reaching a maximum speed of 247 km/h (153 mph).

The G60 engine, like any supercharged and turbocharged engine, was sensitive to excessive air temperature, so performance very much depended on the weather conditions. Some models, like the Corrado or even some variants of the Golf Rallye, had a bigger, better-placed intercooler, resulting in increased performance over the standard intercooler and location.

Though there is no recommendation from Volkswagen, the compressor should be serviced every 100,000 km with an expensive repair likely.

A smaller version of the G60, called the G40, was used in the Polo Coupé supermini. The maximum power of this nervous little machine was 113 PS (83 kW/111 hp), propelling the car to 196 km/h (122 mph).