Besides, the VR6 is a 12 valve engine... In order to breathe efficiently at high engine speed, you need 16 valves, or even 20 (As audi has used in the past). 2 valves simply cannot offer the amount of airflow that 4 valves can... And because heat engines are nothing more than an air pump in reverse, the more airflow the more power, period.
Not to say the VR6 is slow, by no means. Besides they sound great with an exhaust... Its just a totally different animal. It is torquey and that is where it shines...
Not all 2.8L VR6 engines are 12V. In the Later MK4's they were produced with a 24V head. The R32 is a 24 valve engine(audi TT 3.2L) along with the new 3.6L VR6 style engine. Audi built two 20V engines one a I5 4V per cylinder and the other 1.8T that is an I4 with 4V per cylinder.
The new VW 2.0T FSI is an awesome engine It is an 16V engine with direct injection. APR stage1 chip increases power to 252hp & 303lb-ft on a 2.0T. The 2.0T is used in many Audi's and net more factory power. Look at the Audi S3. Like the 1.8T they are very detuned from the factory. Its all in what you prefer. The high winding aggressiveness of the K20 or the brute all around power of the 2.0T.
One thing I am disappointed in with the MK5 GTI is lack of LSD. VW has a test car I got to see on the track this weekend wich is a 300hp GTI with .:R line brakes, KW suspension,Quaife and a few other goodies. VW is thinking of making this an available package. It was
fast.
Most VW guys are going to be biased toward the Honda and vise versa. Bottom line they are both cool.