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Audi S5 V6 TDI Rumored to Borrow New SQ5 TDI's Engine

What's next for the Audi S5? Possibly a performance diesel engine, according to reports from French media.
Audi S5 V6 TDI Rumored to Borrow New SQ5 TDI's Engine 1 photo
Photo: Audi
Because of all the extra emissions testing that needs to be done, Audi hasn't been as good at swapping engines as it used to be. This goes for the whole VW Group, of course, but engine variety and tech sharing has always been their way of making profits.

After a couple of years of selling the SQ5 only with a TFSI engine, the SUV finally got its 3.0 TDI. It's a very advanced unit with twice the turbos of its gasoline counterpart and an electric supercharger like the one on the SQ7.

Such a system probably costs a lot of money to develop, which could be recuperated by installing it on other cars. Automobile Magazine reports that an S5 TDI is thus on its way with all three body styles being affected: coupe, convertible, and four-door.

It's not a completely natural fit; the S5 started life as super-sexy 354 horsepower 4.2-liter V8 and then switched to a supercharger. Yet many customers got the similarly priced A5 TDI quattro with a rear differential, even though it couldn't measure up in the performance department.

This 3.0 TDI engine is almost drawback-free, featuring 347 HP and, crucially, 700 Nm of torque, 200 more than the TFSI model. It could lower the CO2 emissions of the S5 from 172 down to about 160 grams, with similar fuel savings.

What we find puzzling is why the 2020 Audi S4 isn't receiving this unit instead. TDI is a better fit for a super-fast wagon than a sexy sports coupe. BMW is the best place to look for an alternative, as the M340d wagon should be out within a year.

Even more puzzling is the report about TFSI being the exclusive configuration for the A4 allroad after the mid-life facelift. It's like the whole world has gone crazy!
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About the author: Mihnea Radu
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Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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