Driving Audi’s five-cylinder icons – car pictures of the week
In issue 338 of evo, we take three of Audi’s most iconic five-cylinder models on a trip through the French Pyrenees – these are our favourite shots
Time is ticking for Audi’s five cylinder engine. With ever more stringent emissions regulations looming and a future product plan centred around hybrids and EVs, the current RS3 is set to be the five-pot’s final outing. But rather than bemoaning its death, we wanted to celebrate its history by gathering three of Audi’s most iconic five cylinder cars for a spectacular road trip through the Pyrenees. You can read all about it in the latest issue of evo, which is available now in-store or online via the evo shop.
Audi’s five-cylinder story began with the second-gen 100 saloon, but it really took off when the Quattro arrived in 1980. It was a game changing performance car, packing just shy of 200bhp from a 2.1-litre turbocharged version of the unit, four-wheel drive and the ability to deploy its potential on any surface, in pretty much any conditions. For our road trip we had a pearl white 20V example at our disposal, and it was a snapshot of the ‘80s – Casio-style LCD dash included.
A decade later came the RS2, the first hot Audi estate in a line of many, and one developed by Porsche. You wouldn’t know its significance by looking at it, the humdrum slim-bodied wagon lacking the visual punch you get from its modern counterparts, but with a 315bhp engine and a chassis tuned by Zuffenhausen, it’s the ultimate sleeper.
Finally there’s the latest RS3, Audi’s best effort at a hot hatch yet. Its 2.5-litre engine traces its roots to the TT RS from 2009, and though it’s never been lacking in the performance or sound departments, with the RS3 it’s finally found a package to do it justice. With a Torque Splitter rear diff and chassis changes coming as part of a recent facelift, the RS3 is near the top of the hot hatch tree, hugely capable and exciting.
‘The RS3 doesn’t have the sensory rewards of the older cars but out here, given space to use its potential, it takes you to a higher plane altogether,’ we said. ‘For driving at a calm pace the RS2 is the sweet spot – it has the right blend of performance, interactivity and sense of occasion. But I know that on this road, the others will be twirling their arms, fumbling for gears and wishing for a bit more precision, higher ultimate rewards. The RS3 delivers that and then some.’
To read the full story, pick up a copy of evo 338 in-store or online.
