Five-cylinder engines are somewhat of a rarity in the car world. The middle child of the four- and six-cylinder powerplant gets a lot of love from enthusiasts, but car manufacturers tend to opt for its smaller sibling for most projects – the next step up often being seen as the larger six.
There are reasons for this, so don’t go thinking car makers dismiss this engine just to spite us or as a cruel joke. Cost is, obviously, a big one – a four-pot is cheaper to build. There are other mechanical disadvantages to the straight-five, such as not being inherently balanced like a straight-six, too.
That being said, a shorter length (than an inline-six) and increased smoothness (over an inline-four) are both examples of positive traits five-cylinder motors possess. Not to mention they sound like mini V10s. These characteristics have led to some cars, nowadays usually performance-oriented models, being fitted with a five-cylinder – the Audi RS3 and TT RS, for instance.
More cars could benefit from the addition of a five-pot version though, so here’s a list of five to get your imaginations into gear…
Toyota GR Supra
Ah, the Toyota Supra – the butt of every ‘it’s a BMW’ joke. The latest iteration of the iconic name is a controversial sports car but, whether you love or loath it, we’re here to talk about the inclusion of a potential five-cylinder powerplant above all else.
Currently, the Supra can be had with either a 251bhp 2.0-litre inline-four (not in the UK) or 335bhp 3.0-litre inline-six. This leaves more than enough room for a model variant with around 300bhp to sit in the middle. Admittedly, if this were to go ahead, the engine used would most likely be an upgraded 2.0-litre or detuned 3.0-litre, but wouldn’t it be awesome if a five-cylinder was introduced to bridge the gap? Perhaps it could even be derived from one of the existing Supra (BMW-sourced) powerplants.
Audi A1
While a hot new S1, let alone RS1, is looking very unlikely at the moment, a five-cylinder, super supermini is still an exciting thought. Give the little A1 a detuned RS3/TT RS motor (if it’ll fit in the engine bay) – I’d say circa 320bhp will be more than crazy enough – throw in Quattro all-wheel-drive, set it up as an ultra-agile, sharp, sophisticated drivers’ car, etc. and there’s your RS1.
Sure, 320bhp is a significant downgrade from the RS3’s 394bhp. However, considering the previous hot A1 (the S1) had 227bhp, it would be an increase of just under 100bhp if you look at it that way.
Alfa Romeo 4C
Like the Supra, though not quite at its level of debate I’d argue, the Alfa 4C is yet another controversial sports car. Some are immediately wooed by its suave looks and Italian charm, while others simply cannot overlook some of its faults and shortcomings. I, like (I imagine) many enthusiasts, reside on the fence and can appreciate both sides of the argument – ultimately, I would have to get behind the wheel of one to make a decision.
Either way, that captivating charm, charisma and character just mentioned is why I decided include the 4C on this list. With already so much of it in abundance, why not go that step further and introduce a powerplant to the line-up – possibly in an ‘Evo’ version of sorts – that also encapsulates those traits.
Yes, the current four-cylinder does its job, however, a five-cylinder could deliver extra power, as well as an extravagant soundtrack to match the 4C’s exotic looks.
Mazda MX-5
While the previous three cars on this list would likely get turbocharged five-cylinder engines – though, let’s face it, pigs will fly before any of these get five-pots in real life – the MX-5, I propose, wouldn’t. Like the four-cylinders presently powering the small sports car, I say keep it naturally aspirated, retaining that instant throttle response, more linear power delivery and rev-happy spirit which makes the model so popular.
Why introduce a five-cylinder then, if the current inline-fours are so great? Well, many complain about a lack of power with the MX-5 – the peppiest motor offered being an 182bhp 2.0-litre – so a N/A five-cylinder option could help improve upon that without toying too much with the purity of which the car’s known for.
Porsche Macan Turbo
Now, I’m not advocating the downsizing of engines, but if the Macan Turbo’s 434bhp 2.9-litre V6 was to go away, I’d say go with Audi’s five-cylinder (as both manufacturers are owned by VW) as the next powerplant port of call for the fastest version of Porsche’s compact SUV.
The 2.5-litre turbocharged five-pot is featured in the RS3, TT RS and (most relevantly with regards to the Macan) the RS Q3 small SUV. With 394bhp on tap, this engine’s got plenty of punch – just not enough to match or improve upon the V6 Turbo’s 434bhp. That being said, this inline-five is known to be able to handle more power and the next RS3 – expected to have an updated variant of the current 2.5-litre – is believed to pack over 400bhp.
So, on paper at least, a five-cylinder Macan Turbo wouldn’t come as a downgrade performance-wise or even be a massively improbable proposition. Of course, this all depends on whether Audi is willing to share its precious engine with Porsche, which it wasn’t with VW (for a new Golf R), reportedly.
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