Three questions for Prof. Dr.-Ing. Werner Bauer, Head of the Institute for Internal Combustion Engines and Vehicle Drive Systems at the Munich University of Applied Sciences

The new HOREX VR6 engine is often compared to the VR engines developed by Volkswagen. What is your opinion on this?

That's understandable, because most people interested in this technology initially became familiar with the Volkswagen VR engine design. Strictly speaking, the basic idea of merging the advantages of inline and VR cylinder configurations is the only thing the HOREX engine and the different VR and W engines from the Volkswagen Group have in common. In fact, we had to start from scratch with the HOREX engine design. This is because the VR engine layout for a motorcycle is very different than the one used for car engines. The cylinder head is a good example. On the HOREX engine, we implemented a textbook solution for the intake duct, which runs straight up into the air box. This would not be possible with a car, because of the hood over the engine.

Have you had contact with VW regarding the engine design?

Yes, we have a joint agreement with the Volkswagen Group. The HOREX development team communicated with the VR specialists from Volkswagen in the early design phase. They helped us work out some of the details of the HOREX VR6 design and we are obviously very grateful for that. We are also sharing our experiences with VW. So this is a real win-win situation.

Is there anything about this project that you personally enjoyed most?

The thing that I find especially exciting is the high level of motivation and professionalism demonstrated by everyone involved in the project. This is probably the reason why the cooperation among the team members has worked so well. Everyone has done their part, from the core team members and the experts working for our suppliers, to the students here at the university, some of whom are working on degree dissertations within the framework of the HOREX project.