1995 Audi RS2
1995 Audi RS2
There are performance cars. There are practical cars. And then, there’s the Audi RS2 Avant. An estate car so incredibly overkill, it renders the very concept of ‘sensible family transportation’ farcical.
Let’s begin with what looks, at first glance, like an unassuming Audi 80 Avant. An inoffensive, slightly non-commital German estate. A design that was thoroughly era appropriate. As sharp as a geography teacher’s cardigan. Except this Audi didn’t go to geography class, it went to Porsche.
Specifically to the Porsche Rossle-Bau plant, where Porsche had just wrapped production of the Mercedes-Benz E500. You see, Porsche had been propping itself up through collaborations to ease the burden of what they described as ‘economical difficulties’.
Audi had a problem of its own. The glory days of the Audi Quattro dominating the WRC were becoming a fading memory. The World Rally Championship was getting out of hand as large turbochargers and widespread use of 4-wheel drive meant the Audi S2 was struggling to keep its head above water against the competition from Subaru and Mitsubishi. Audi needed to make headlines again. Audi needed a hit.
They challenged Porsche to build a car that would put the fear of God up BMW’s jumper, and specifically, a machine powerful enough to make the M3 go hide in the wardrobe.
Audi offered up their 80 Avant to Porsche as the platform. With Audi taking care of the paint, they gave Porsche cart blanche to tinker to their hearts content. Under the bonnet, they started with the S2’s 2.2-litre DOHC, 20-valve, 5-cylinder engine. That’s where they started, anyway. By the time Porsche’s engineers were finished, the 2.2 had new camshafts, larger fuel injectors, a freer-flowing induction system, revised low pressure exhaust system, a bigger, heavy-duty intercooler and an enlarged BorgWarner KKK Turbocharger. To manage all this hardware, Porsche used a specialised Bosch Motronic ECU.
The result? 409N.m of torque and 311bhp at 6,500rpm. An increase of 91bhp over the standard S2 engine and 25bhp more than the E36 M3. In 1994, this made the RS2 the fastest wagon in the world. It was the first Audi not to be suppressed with an electronic limiter, and would storm the autobahn at an earflapping 163mph! Apparently Audi decided that if you were brave enough to buy one, then you could probably be trusted to use it responsibly.
Officially, the RS2 would go from a standing start to 60mph in just 5.4seconds. Impressive. But when the journalists started to get their hands on a few press cars, they did it in 4.8seconds, and from 0-30mph, the RS2 accelerated faster than a McLaren F1. You don’t need to know much about cars to know that’s quick.
Porsche retained the S2’s permanent all-wheel-drive system, but implemented a manually engageable electronic locking Torsen rear differential. Located next to the handbrake, rests a button that loudly declares, “Today, we rally!”
Porsche’s fingerprints were everywhere. And I mean everywhere. Porsche inscriptions feature on the rear RS2 badge, the intake manifold and in the wheel arches. Porsche branded Brembo brakes were fitted to slow the Avant as quickly as it started. Huge red 4-pot calipers could be configured with either 304mm or 322mm vented brake discs at the front, the latter required a set of the now iconic 17” Porsche 968 Clubsport alloy wheels to allow enough clearance. The rear arches made do with perfectly adequate 299mm discs and a Bosch ABS system that, for its time, was tantamount to sorcery.
Sat alongside a standard Audi 80, the 40mm drop in ride height of the RS2 was instantly noticeable. This wasn’t just a point and squirt greyhound in the straights, it was devastatingly quick in the corners.
In the cabin, punters could spec the RS2 with either wood or carbon fibre dashboard trim, a leather threespoke steering wheel and electronically adjustable full or half leather Recaro sports seats.
Everything has a function, and the fit and finish is what you would expect of an Audi/Porsche collaboration. There’s not much in the way of theatre, but if you opt for the Nogaro Blue alcantara upholstery as we have here, you do get a few extra scoops of 'pizzazz' for your money.
Built for a limited time in 1994 and 1995, the RS2 cost around £45,700 depending on spec. Finding a good one today will set you back a cool £100,000. That’s not inflation. That’s reverence. The RS2 became the wagon that kicked off Audi’s RS division as we know it.
We looked long and hard for a suitable candidate to join our Hero Collection. With a mere 2,891 RS2’s built, only 180 were built in RHD configuration for the UK, New Zealand and South African markets and as of 2021, only 124 RHD models were still taxed or declared SORN in the UK.
Our search initially took us as far as Italy, for what looked to be a promising lead on a low mileage LHD Avant in Polar Silver. But, after closer inspection on the ramps, it wasn’t for us. Several more underwhelming inspections later, we had all but given up. That is, until we came across this fantastic low mileage, right-hand-drive RS2 in vivid Nogaro Blue.
The RS2 only had 47,500 miles on it and was completely standard, save for an aftermarket Supersprint exhaust system that further accentuates and truly brings out the full potential and tone of the Porsche modified engine.
This RS2 will soon pass through our workshop for a program of underbody future-proofing and connolising of the leather seat bolsters to ensure this wagon stands the test of time and remains one of the finest examples on the roads today.
Our Thoughts
When Audi teamed up with Porsche to create the Audi RS2 Avant, there was always the danger it would simply be an Audi wearing a Porsche frock. A fast estate with a few Stuttgart trinkets glued on. And yes, the RS2 did get Porsche-designed bumpers, those unmistakable 911 mirrors and a handful of little badges. But what followed was something altogether more serious. The RS2 Avant wasn’t just a rummage through the parts bin, but a full-blown rethink. A car that completely rewrote expectations and made the world realise that the humble estate could be every bit as thrilling as a supercar.
1995 Audi RS2
1995 Audi RS2