Audi will launch a three-cylinder version of the A1 and the A3 could follow suit, according to Audi CEO, Rupert Stadler.
Speaking to Auto Express at the Beijing Motor Show, Stadler said: “In the A1 and the A3, the three-cylinder will be a standard engine in the future, for sure. It gives a good feeling and plenty of torque.” When asked if the A1 would be the first Audi to get the tech, Stadler replied: “Yes, for sure.”
But it may be some time before we see Audi’s larger models getting three-cylinder engines. “I think for a while, we will stay with the entry-level products [A1 and A3] – I’m not quite sure if the market in the mid to long run responds to three-cylinder tech. But just look at it 10-15 years ago when six-cylinder was a must and now four-cylinder has taken over.”
The Volkswagen Group already has three-cylinder engines as part of its range, including a 1.0-litre TSI petrol currently used in the Polo along with a 1.4 TDI. They currently produce a maximum of 89bhp but expect tweaks for more power in the A1.
Stadler also confirmed Audi’s commitment to plug-in hybrid technology, claiming an Audi A6 plug-in would launch in China later this year, with other markets due to follow suit. A plug-in Q7 will also form part of the next-gen model line-up, and there will be plug-in A7s and A8s in future, too.
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