The five-cylinder engine is inseparably linked with Audi’s greatest motorsport successes. When Audi introduced permanent quattro all-wheel drive to rallying in the early 1980s, the turbocharged five-cylinder engine formed the technical heart of this revolution. Its compact design, exceptional durability and enormous performance potential made it the ideal powerplant for the legendary Audi quattro, Sport quattro and Sport quattro S1 rally cars. Powered by the five-cylinder engine, Audi won multiple World Rally Championship titles between 1982 and 1984 and made motorsport history. The combination of turbocharging, permanent all-wheel drive and the distinctive sound of the inline five-cylinder transformed rallying and established Audi as a synonym for technical innovation and performance.
The engine’s unmistakable sound and impressive power delivery continue to fascinate motorsport enthusiasts to this day. Even after the rally era, the five-cylinder remained a key element of Audi’s motorsport heritage. From the successful IMSA race cars and the Audi 90 quattro IMSA GTO to today’s high-performance RS models, the motorsport DNA of the Audi five-cylinder continues to live on.