Five cylinders, five decades: Audi celebrates 50 years of legendary engine that changed the world of sports cars

Audi will celebrate in 2026 the 50th anniversary of its five-cylinder engine, first introduced in the Audi 100 C2 model in 1976. The manufacturer added a fifth cylinder to the EA 827 engine, maintaining compactness and increasing power to 136 hp. This decision became the basis for further development of the engine lineup. Already in 1979, the first turbocharged version appeared, and in 1980 the Audi quattro model with permanent all-wheel drive and a 200-horsepower turbo engine secured the brand’s victory in the world rally. Later modifications for Group B exceeded 450 hp, and the Sport quattro S1 version reached 598 hp.