Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.The turbocharged five-cylinder engine is one of the most beloved engines in Audi's history, but its future has been uncertain for some time now. After the RS 3 competition limited was revealed earlier this year as a swansong for the 8Y generation, it was suggested that the five-pot could be on the edge of extinction, with Audi CEO Gernot Döllner saying he could not be certain if the automaker would be "able to refinance the investment in EU7 regulations," which will make standards much more stringent from November of this year. In markets like the U.S., the five-pot can still easily meet emissions standards, but now, Audi Sport boss Rolf Michl has suggested that it could also live on elsewhere.Hot VW Golf R Could Help Keep Audi's Five-Cylinder AliveAudiAccording to Autocar, Michl recently made comments indicating that Audi knows the five-cylinder engine is now an important part of its image, and dropping it from all cars would be a huge loss. "It's so characteristic and also deeply rooted in history, so let's see," said Michl, adding, "The entrance into the RS world is important because having a brand statement like that is amazing. Emotion starts in the compact segment." In other words, Michl believes that without a unique and exciting "entry-level" RS model, Audi could ultimately be sacrificing future sales of more potent products that these compact buyers would eventually graduate to, like the RS 5 and RS 6, for example. However, the abovementioned costs of adapting the RS 3's engine to meet EU7 regulations would be far from negligible, and Audi may need help from elsewhere in the Volkswagen Group.AdvertisementAdvertisementRelated: Audi Is Finally Bringing Hybrids Back To America"Negotiations are ongoing, so we're not at the decision point yet," said Michl. "Everybody really knows about the meaning, and therefore, we're still evaluating with our colleagues from Audi AG." At present, the RS 3 and Cupra's Formentor (not sold in the U.S.) are the only vehicles to use Audi's five-cylinder DNWA and DXHA engines, but the negotiations referred to may include talks of a rumored five-cylinder Golf R special edition for 2027. This is something Audi previously blocked in 2020, but it later allowed Cupra to pillage the parts bin, so it's not inconceivable. If it happens, Audi may be able to recoup more of the financial burden of keeping the engine EU-compliant, spreading development costs across three vehicles instead of only one or two.Why This Matters To American Audi FansAudiAs we mentioned at the outset, the five-cylinder turbo has no trouble meeting U.S. emissions standards, but it would be hard to imagine Audi engineering and developing an entirely new generation of RS 3 for only a handful of potential buyers – not without the asking price climbing considerably. But if Audi is willing to continue sharing the engine with Cupra and decides to do the same with Volkswagen, not only could the RS 3 live on at a reasonable MSRP, but it could also pave the way for the return of the RS Q3. And although Audi says its new Concept C sports car will sit above the discontinued TT and be sold exclusively as an EV, we've heard that line before. Fellow VW Group brand Porsche said its electric 718 replacement would not get combustion power before changing its mind in light of weak EV demand, and that's important because the 718 project is critical to Audi's electric sports car, which means Audi could decide to change tack in a few years if EVs still aren't selling. Ultimately, it's a tough spot for Audi, because hybridization adds weight, cost, and complexity, but dropping one of its signature engines would not have an insignificant impact on the brand either.This story was originally published by Autoblog on Aug 18, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
+51 others
