Audi Could Turn the RS 3 Hybrid to Save Its Iconic Five-Cylinder Engine From Emissions Rules

With the introduction of the RS 3 competition limited in March, Audi seems to be preparing to say goodbye to its five-cylinder engine, and not because there's no interest from customers, but because it falls foul of incoming Euro 7 emissions regulations that will take effect in November. But according to Autocar, the engineers in Ingolstadt may find a way to keep the iconic engine alive; Audi CEO Gernot Döllner told the publication that the EA855 engine's future is "still under discussion." He added that he's unsure if the automaker is "able to refinance the investment in EU7 regulations." In other words, it's going to be expensive to find a way to keep the engine alive, and Audi doesn't know if the juice would be worth the squeeze.

RS 3 Engine Could Survive with Hybrid Power

The publication reports that insiders say the five-pot turbo engine would need serious hardware upgrades, including a new particulate filter, more sensitive NOx sensors, revised fuel-injection mapping, and catalytic converters with higher cell densities. All of these are known to reduce power output, but when Audi Sport boss Rolf Michl was asked about the possibility of adding a hybrid element to the powertrain, he said Audi is open to "every possibility," adding that the automaker is still brainstorming its way through potential options. "I can tell you we are still thinking in different technological possibilities," he said, adding that the most important thing for a new RS 3 is "the maximum amount of emotional driving experience for the compact segment." Audi is aware that the appeal of a five-cylinder engine is tough to imitate, but the good news is that the engine will likely continue to be sold in the U.S., according to Autocar. However, we're not so sure that its future is secure anywhere.

Audi's Five-Cylinder Engine is Tough to Justify

It's been reported that the Golf R will get a five-cylinder special edition next year, and if that's true, it would show that the Volkswagen Group, of which Audi is a part, is aware that the five-pot raises the pulses of enthusiasts, but we wonder if such a special edition may only be under consideration because the EA855 is nearing the end of the line. After all, besides the RS 3, the engine is only still used in the Cupra Formentor VZ5 (not sold in North America). Moreover, while Audi USA doesn't separate sales figures for the A3, S3, and RS 3, the whole lot only achieved 8,315 sales in the U.S. last year, indicating that the business case for the five-cylinder can't be made on American demand alone. To summarize, the RS 3 engine is a treasure, but keeping it alive will be expensive, and if Audi decides it's worth the R&D to keep it going, potentially with a mild-hybrid setup, that will almost certainly affect the U.S.-spec model, too.

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