Top 5 Greatest Audi Engines

1. 2.2-Liter Turbo I5

Two things put Audi on the map – the Quattro all-wheel drive and the 2.2-liter turbocharged five-cylinder. Without both of these things, Audi wouldn’t have left a legacy in the rally world. It may not have survived the sudden acceleration fiasco in the 1980s. And, we wouldn’t have legendary cars like the Audi ur Quattro, the Audi Sport Quattro S1, or the Audi RS2 Avant.

The old saying, “it’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog,” is true for Audi’s five-cylinder engines. They are Jack Russell Terriers, quick and energetic, but instead of hunting foxes and slightly larger game, they hunt BMWs and the occasional Porsche. That started with the original Quattro and remains true today.

Photos: Audi Heritage  

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Mark Webb

Mark Webb is fascinated by anything automotive and particularly loves cars that are unusual or have a good story. He's owned a variety of cars from 60's muscle, Japanese imports, and oddities like a VW Thing and Porsche 924. After 20 years in the automotive and tech industries, he's a walking encyclopedia of car info and is always on the lookout for his next project or a good road trip.