What Killed The 5-Cylinder Engine?

The inline five-cylinder is a unique engine that allows for more displacement than a four-cylinder, without the bulk or length of an inline six-cylinder. With five pistons, the engine has a distinctive sound thanks to it’s 144 degree firing interval, providing smoother power delivery than a four-cylinder. And because it’s not as long as an I6, it can still be transversely mounted in an engine bay, as is the case in the last production car that still offers an inline five-cylinder – the Audi RS3. But logically, there’s no real reason for this engine variant to persist. Turbochargers enable four cylinders to match their power output, and a 5-cylinder will never be perfectly balanced like an inline-six cylinder. And if you need six cylinders in a compact form, there’s always the V6, which Audi uses extensively.

Note: Technically the Donkervoort D8 GTO also currently uses the Audi-sourced I5 engine; I did not count this in the video since they do not produce it.

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