Earlier in the year, there were rumours circulating that Audi is going to drop the iconic naturally-aspirated V8 engine for the RS4. While some rumours are not to be taken seriously like the revival of the Mazda RX7, this one seems closer to reality as it has been confirmed by Quattro GmBH managing director himself, Heinz Hollerweger.
The 4.2-liter eight-cylinder engine has been powering the B7 and B8 versions of the RS4, and it seems that the next-gen RS4 will also be affected by the downsizing move as reports suggest that the V8 might be replaced with a turbocharged V6 power plant. Whatever the replacement might be, the new engine must allow the model “to continue this success story”, and there is a possibility that it might use the electric turbocharger technology shown earlier this year in the RS5 TDI Concept.
However, this is not a move to entirely phase out the V8 engine as Hollerweger hinted that the next-gen RS6 might still be powered by one. And at the same time he did confirm that the next-gen R8 would be powered by a V10 engine, very close to the car it will share its underpinnings, the Lamborghini Huracan.
