Audi power
Celebrating 50 years of the five-cylinder engine.
Words by Mark Slack
Audi will celebrate a very special anniversary next year: 50 years of the five-cylinder engine. First introduced in 1976 in the second-generation Audi 100, currently the 2.5 TFSI in the Audi RS 3 continues the great tradition of five-cylinder engines. Audi’s five-cylinder engines have cult status and are deeply rooted in the Audi DNA.
The first five-cylinder engine powered the Audi 100 (C2) in 1976. The four-cylinder engines of the time were not sufficient for the plans and Audi engineers therefore discussed using inline five-cylinder and six-cylinder engines in the early 1970s. The latter were ruled out due to space constraints and the unfavorable weight distribution. As a result, they opted for the inline five-cylinder engine, with a displacement of 2,144 cc, delivered 100 kW (136 PS). A modern fuel injection system increased efficiency and power delivery. Deliveries of the Audi 100 5E began in March 1977.
Audi launched its first diesel version back in 1978: a naturally aspirated diesel with a displacement of two litres and 51 kW (70 PS). One year later, the first five-cylinder gasoline engine with turbocharging made its debut – another pioneering achievement by Audi. With 125 kW (170 PS) and 265 Nm of torque, it powered the new top model, the Audi 200 5T.
The five-cylinder gasoline engine in the original 1980 Audi quattro reached even greater heights. Featuring turbocharging, intercooling, and permanent all-wheel drive, it formed a powerful technology package for both racing and the road. At the start of sales, it had a power output of 147 kW (200 PS). After Audi secured the World Rally Championship title in 1982 with this car Audi introduced the Sport quattro powered by a newly developed four-valve, five-cylinder light-alloy engine with 225 kW (306 PS). This made the Sport quattro the most powerful car ever offered by a German company for use on public roads up to that time.
Since 2021, the Audi RS 3 has been equipped with a modified version of the five-cylinder 2.5 TFSI, which is more powerful than ever before. It enables the compact sports car to sprint from 0 to 62 mph in just 3.8 seconds.
The five-cylinder’s throaty sound makes for a highly evocative driving experience. Its signature sound is created by the odd number of cylinders and the unique firing sequence 1-2-4-5-3, which alternates between cylinder pairs adjacent to each other and further away that gives the 2.5 TFSI a very distinctive note.
Words by Mark Slack
