Audi Weighs Keeping Its Five-Cylinder Alive, Possibly With a Hybrid Boost

Audi hasn't decided whether to kill its iconic 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder engine, and the company's own mixed signals are fueling the uncertainty. Some statements suggest the engine could be dropped, while others hint it might survive in some form. The automaker has yet to commit to either path.

The engine, famous for its role in the Ur-Quattro and 1980s Group B rally cars, currently powers the RS3. Audi Sport boss Rolf Michl recently acknowledged the engine's significance, saying evaluations are still ongoing and that he personally feels connected to it. He called it characteristic and deeply rooted in history, adding "let's see" about its future.

A key hurdle is Euro 7 emissions rules, which the current five-cylinder doesn't meet. Updating it would require significant investment, and Audi needs to justify that cost. Michl also said the RS3 is an important entry point into the RS lineup, noting that emotion starts in the compact segment.

He confirmed negotiations about a next-generation RS3 are ongoing but not yet at a decision point.

One possible solution is hybridizing the five-cylinder, similar to how Lamborghini kept its V12 alive with electrification. However, developing a hybrid version for just the RS3, a low-volume model, might be hard to justify financially. Spreading the engine across more vehicles could spread development costs and help convince VW Group's finance team to approve the project.