Top 5 Greatest Audi Engines

The top 5 greatest Audi engines showcase not just power and engineering excellence but the soul of the Audi Brand.

The top 5 greatest Audi engines include two unusual cylinder configurations and two V8s. It’s hard to imagine the company without them. Audi, with only a mixture of four-cylinder and V6 engines, wouldn’t be the same.

These engines speak to Audi’s engineering excellence. They reveal the passion behind the company’s racing legacy. But most importantly, they reveal the history and soul of the company.

5. 4.2-Liter V8

Audi’s 4.2-liter V8 is the company’s first modern high-performance V8 engine. For a time, the company stuffed it in everything from the A8 and S8 to the RS 4 and even the R8 sports car.  It was named one of Ward’s Top 10 Engines, which called it “a package that seamlessly integrates sophistication and muscle. Audi’s premium V-8 remains one of the market’s most powerful V-8s for its size.”

Naturally aspirated, the 4.2-liter V8 made between 340 and 414 horsepower. Turbocharged, it cranked out over 500 horses. Lightweight and powerful, it helped put the Audi S8 on the map and transformed the A4 into a rocket.

Mark Webb

Mark Webb is fascinated by anything automotive and particularly loves cars that are unusual or have a good story. He's owned a variety of cars from 60's muscle, Japanese imports, and oddities like a VW Thing and Porsche 924. After 20 years in the automotive and tech industries, he's a walking encyclopedia of car info and is always on the lookout for his next project or a good road trip.