TT-RS pointer to more five-cylinder Audis?

Audi is looking back to the future. Set to unveil its new five-cylinder TT RS powerhouse at Geneva this week, the German marque is planning to broaden the bailiwick of the all-new five-cylinder engine and is set to develop longitudinal versions of the powerplant.

As featured in the hottest ever TT (more here and in the next week), the all-new five was initially designed as a transverse powerplant. That is, as the TT is essentially Golf-based, the engine runs across the car in what is now considered the conventional layout for front and all-wheel drive mass market vehicles.

In this regard it mimics the five-cylinder petrol and diesel powerplants Volvo (and Ford) use in a number of models.

Audi's A4, A5 and larger models (and the extra variants these platforms will spawn) feature longitudinal engines, however. Thus the ability of Audi to leverage the excellent power-to-weight ratio of the new powerplant -- and the marketing value of its links to the all-conquering rally quattros of the 1980s -- require the company to build new versions.

The new powerplant has been billed as "half a Lamborghini V10" but Audi insiders insist the 2.5-litre engine is all-new. Developed at Neckarsulm, away from Audi's four-cylinder development team at Ingolstadt, the engine is seen by the company as a key USP for the brand to separate itself from the prestige car pack and its Volkswagen, Skoda and Seat stablemates.

In its TT RS guise the turbocharged five pumps out an impressive 253kW and 440Nm -- more than the supercharged 3.0 V6 just released in the S4/S5 and now features in A6 models. It is also significantly lighter than the company's existing petrol V6 powerplants and in lower performance variants ranging from 170-220kW would deliver significant fuel economy (and hence CO2 emission) savings.

With a rich heritage of building five-cylinder engines, the move to expand the engine's use seems a no brainer. The hiccup, however is packaging -- specifically the length of the new powerplant when mated with the A4's new drivetrain.

Audi engineers say that in a longitudinal installation in the A4, for instance, the engine poses "difficulties" -- in particular difficulties related to pedestrian safety. They say the changes needed to accommodate the new powerplant are in the process of being programmed into future model roll outs.

While Audi's TT with 250kW-plus is mouth watering, even more so is the prospect of a sporting version of the current A4 sedan complete with Quattro Sport soundtrack. Our Audi connection says just such a car could be on sale within 18 months.

We can't wait...