HIGH FIVE

Way back in 1989 while working as a motoring writer, I borrowed a manual Audi 90 for extended evaluation. It was a lovely vehicle to drive, but what really stood out was the 2.3L five-cylinder engine. It was way smoother than a four-cylinder unit (such as the 2.2L in the manual Peugeot 505 I borrowed two years earlier), but not as bulky as an in-line six, plus delivered fuel efficiency similar to a four.

Since then, five-cylinder engines have appeared in other European vehicles, including the Volvo X90 4WD station wagon. The all alloy 20