Audi’s Five-Cylinder Engine Might Survive for Another Generation

• Audi has had a five-cylinder engine in its lineup since 1976.

• The brand currently uses a five-cylinder engine only in the RS3.

• Audi Sport’s boss says the company might invest in making this engine compliant with Euro 7 emissions regulations.

While it seemed the RS3 Competition Limited unveiled earlier this year would be the last Audi powered by a five-cylinder engine, this might not be the case after all.

Indeed, the boss of Audi Sport, Rolf Michl, told Autocar that the brand is “well aware of the historical meaning of the five-cylinder” and that Audi is still running evaluations about the future of this engine type.

For a bit of context, Audi has had at least one five-cylinder-powered car in its global lineup continuously since 1976.

After becoming the brand’s default engine type for a few years in the 1980s and early 1990s, it gradually got replaced by turbocharged four-cylinder and V6 engines, except in some high-performance models.

Up until a few years ago, three models in Audi’s lineup used this type of engine: The RS3, the RS TT, and the RS Q3.

Since then, the latter two have been discontinued, leaving the RS3 as the only flagbearer for the engine that powered some of the brand’s most iconic models, such as the Quattro and RS2.

Due to looming Euro 7 emissions regulations that will make it much harder to sell gasoline-powered vehicles in Europe starting in November, the future of Audi’s five-cylinder engine is uncertain.

Indeed, Audi CEO Gernot Döllner said at the launch of the RS3 Competition Limited in March that the automaker might not be “able to refinance the investment in EU7 regulations” for the five-cylinder.

Therefore, the recent comments made by Mr. Michl are encouraging for enthusiasts who value the typical soundtrack of the five-cylinder over a four-cylinder that could be more powerful, but less characterful.

If Audi chooses to update the five-cylinder for the next generation of the RS3, it will reportedly have to make significant changes to components such as the catalytic converter, the injection system, filters, and various sensors.

Another way to reduce emissions would be to pair this engine with a hybrid powertrain, but this would add weight and complexity, two elements that are usually frowned upon in a small sports car.

Something enthusiasts are sure to appreciate is that Audi might have to use this revised engine in more models in order to recoup its investment, as the low sales volume of the RS3 alone is not likely to be enough.

This could mean more Audi models adopting five-cylinder power, but also more VW Group models. Indeed, the Cupra Formentor VZ5 is currently the only non-Audi model in the VW Group to use this engine, but there are rumours of a five-cylinder Golf R floating around.

Source: Autocar