Porsche’s ICE Pivot Sparks 5-Cylinder Hope for Audi Concept C 

A couple of weeks ago, Autocar reported that Porsche was pulling a U-turn on their plans to offer the next generation 718 sports cars as EV only. They will now redesign the 718 models so they can accept gasoline-powered engines. Does that open the door for the Audi Concept C to receive an Audi 5-cylinder engine?

Let’s be clear up front, this is all pure speculation, and we have heard no reports as of this date of Audi offering an internal combustion engine in Audi Concept C. The Concept C was revealed as an EV sports car and to the best of our knowledge, that remains the case. But that doesn’t mean we can’t dream a bit. And the idea of a 5-cylinder Concept C is not as far-fetched as you might think.

Porsche Switch

Porsche decided that the next-generation 718 (Boxster and Cayman) was going to be EV only. Automotive journalists hated the idea. Porsche owners and enthusiasts hated the idea. It seemed like Porsche themselves were the only ones that thought it was a good idea. With ever tightening emissions regulations, an all-EV future was imminent. So, they made the call to make their beloved mid-engine sports cars EVs.

But buyers began to shun EVs. Adoption rates slowed down. And regulations began to be rolled back. Porsche then made the very costly decision (although Porsche themselves have yet to confirm this) to rework the next generation 718 platform to accept the beloved flat six engine.

Audi Switch

So, that got us thinking. If Porsche were willing to do that, would Audi be willing to make a similar move? In Porsche-land the flat six is the iconic engine. But here at Audi, it is the 5-cylinder engine that enthusiasts love. Could Audi reverse course and offer the Concept C with a 5-cylinder instead of with electric motors? Or would they offer both a 5-cyldiner and an EV version side-by-side?

The Audi Concept C is a fully operational and running car. It is not just a design study. Audi invested a lot of time and money to build a Concept C that could actually be driven. To then change the car to use an ICE engine would be a massive expense. An expense that Audi may not be able to fit in their budget. The Concept C has not been designed for things such as fuel lines, exhaust systems and so on. It would be a monumental task to rework all of this. But the payoff could very well be worth it.

Audi Concept C

Audi CEO Gernot Döllner has promised to make the Concept C an exciting EV. It may use artificial gear shifts and synthetic 5-cylinder engine sounds to accomplish that feat. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N does something similar to great effect. It is one of the more engaging EVs on the market. But there is no substitute for the real thing.

The Audi Concept C is an extremely exciting car as it is. But imagine if Audi came out tomorrow and said it would be powered by a 450 horsepower 5-cylinder engine. The desirability knob would instantly go to 11. It would be the type of vehicle that could really win back Audi enthusiasts. It will be a challenge to win them over with an EV, no matter how good it is. Especially if sister company Porsche is still offering mid-engine sports cars with an actual engine in the middle.

Manufacturers all over the world are pulling back on EVs to align with what is going on in the market right now. Could/should Audi follow suit? Would you be more likely to purchase an ICE Concept C over an EV Concept C? Do you think it is worth the short-term financial hit to do the redesign for the potential of long-term gains and increased sales? It is certainly an intriguing idea, even if it is just fantasy for now.