Audi’s Five-Cylinder Engine Exits Europe, But RS3 Remains Available Elsewhere

Affected by the upcoming Euro 7 emissions regulations, Audi will halt production of its iconic 2.5T five-cylinder engine in Europe by mid-2027 and discontinue sales of the RS3 in the region. However, the model will continue to be sold in markets with less stringent emissions standards, such as North America. Julia Winkler, spokesperson for the Audi A3 lineup, confirmed to Motor1 that the company will not upgrade this engine due to prohibitively high compliance costs. Currently, the RS3 hatchback and sedan are the only models still equipped with this powertrain. Audi’s five-cylinder heritage dates back to the 1976 Audi 100. As the European Union mandates a 90% reduction in fleet-wide CO₂ emissions by 2035, more performance vehicles are being forced out of the European market.