Audi Is Not Ready to Part Ways with the Five-Cylinder Engine: TDS
Jerry Perez/The Drive
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Welcome to The Downshift, or TDS for short, The Drive’s morning news summary highlighting major automotive headlines from around the globe.
The Downshift condenses news items into brief summaries, providing links for those who want to delve deeper. Here’s your update for Tuesday, August 18, 2026.
5️⃣ Although Audi has not indicated that its iconic five-cylinder engine is on borrowed time, the pressure of increasingly stringent emissions regulations always threatens unique enthusiast engines. Thankfully, Audi Sport chief Rolf Michl is saying reassuring things about the future of the five-pot, mentioning in an interview, “We’re well aware of the historical significance of the five-cylinder” and that, “Evaluations are still ongoing, and those who know me understand my personal connection to the five-cylinder engine. It’s so distinctive and deeply rooted in history—so let’s wait and see.” Currently, this engine is exclusive to the RS3. [Autocar]
📹 Another day brings another massive recall due to faulty backup cameras, this time affecting Stellantis with nearly 850,000 vehicles across 15 model lines including Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram. [Autoblog]
📜 Ongoing negotiations aim to reduce the U.S. tariff on Canadian vehicles, which presently stands at 25%. A crucial factor in these talks is whether North American or just U.S. content can be deducted from the tariff. The objective is to drop the rate to 15%, but depending on the final content criteria, the “effective rate” might be lowered to single digits. [Reuters]
⚡ As of now, Honda and Acura do not offer hybrid engines in the HR-V subcompact SUV or its more upscale equivalent, the ADX. Gary Robinson, the American Honda product planning chief, mentioned in an interview that the main obstacle to adopting this technology is cost, especially in this entry-level segment. [Automotive News]
🚕 Reports suggest that Tesla may be gearing up to roll out its Cybercab robotaxi fleet in Austin as soon as this month, according to insiders familiar with the company's plans. [Reuters via The Information]
🏭 More information has emerged regarding Jaguar Land Rover’s collaboration with Stellantis, focusing on utilizing some of Stellantis’s production capacity to manufacture vehicles in the U.S. during a JLR earnings call. Chief Financial Officer Richard Molyneux emphasized that the company is specifically targeting U.S. production—excluding Canada and Mexico—while highlighting the U.S. market's significance. “Remember, the U.S. has 40% of the world’s millionaires, a strong preference for SUVs where we excel, and a deep connection to our brands: Range Rover, Defender, and, notably, Jaguar.” [CarBuzz]
🕹️ Mate Rimac is open to the idea of a V16 Bugatti with a manual transmission; in fact, he fully supports it. When asked if such a vehicle could fit within the prestigious brand, the CEO responded, “Yes, definitely. Absolutely. I completely agree. Imagine a V-16 with a real manual.” [Road & Track]
🙅♂️ Porsche specialist Ruf has denied reports suggesting the company was in discussions for a potential sale to Porsche, stating that it is “not for sale, and any reports to the contrary are false.” [Carscoops]
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