Audi S2 / RS2 Avant (1990–1996)

De Audi RS Avant 2 is a powerful version of the Audi 80 Avant station wagon, produced from March 1994 to July 1995. The model, a joint project of Audi and Porsche, was based on Audi's B4/8C platform and received the internal designation P1. It was equipped with the most powerful version of Audi's five-cylinder turbo engine. It is Audi's first “RS” model and also the first of their powerful Avants.

1994 Audi RS 2 in the typical blue color

History and background

Audi had been offering the S2 since 1990 as their first street-legal sports model with an 'S' in the model name. Alongside the S2 Coupé, which was presented as the official successor to the legendary quattro Coupé in sales brochures, there were also the S2 sedan and the S2 Avant.

The Audi S2 is the first car in the Audi S-series. A historic first — the S badge that Audi uses for its sporty models to this day started here, with the S2 of 1990. Automobile Catalog
Due to persistent customer demand, the team in Ingolstadt decided to develop an even stronger version.

At the same time, sports car manufacturer Porsche was having a very difficult time. The production lines of the 911 (964), 968, and 928 GTS were understaffed due to low demand. Thus, the Audi engineers were welcome when they requested a development collaboration to create the most powerful Audi to date.

The RS2 Avant is Audi's first “RS” model and the first of their high-performance Avants. RS stood for Rennsport — racing. A name that has since grown into the most coveted badge in the Audi world.

Audi RS2 Avant Interior

Design and interior

On the exterior, few details could tell the difference between a regular 80 Avant and the RS2. The Porsche wheels, rearview mirrors, and the large front bumper were a telltale sign. At the rear, there was a larger bumper and a wide red panel connecting the taillights.

Inside, the car featured Recaro sports bucket seats with high bolsters and blue Alcantara upholstery. The sports steering wheel was a component of the Audi Procon-ten safety system of the time, which offered enhanced passive safety by retracting the steering column and tightening the seatbelts during an accident. This was the time before airbags became mandatory.

Model variants

S2 Coupé (1990–1995) — the pioneer:

7.370 S2 Coupés were built. Three-door liftback body on the B3/B4 platform, 220–230 hp five-cylinder turbo. In 1993, the S2 was revised, with the newer grille integrated into the hood; from this year until the end of production in 1996, it was offered alongside the limited sedan and Avant variants.

S2 Sedan (1993–1994) — the rare version:

Only 306 S2 sedans were built. A four-door sedan on the same platform — the rarest S2 variant and therefore the most sought-after by collectors.

S2 Avant (1993–1995) — the practical sports car:

1.812 S2 Avants were built. Five-door estate on the B4 platform, same powertrain as the coupé. 0–100 km/h in 6,1 seconds, top speed 242 km/h.

RS2 Avant (1994–1995) — the absolute top model:

Collaboratively designed as a joint venture between Audi and Porsche and based on Audi's B4/8C platform, it received the internal designation P1. The car was assembled at the Porsche factory in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, giving it a WAC… chassis number.

Technically, they used the 2,2-liter inline five-cylinder 20-valve engine from the S2 as a basis and increased performance through a new turbocharger, an enlarged intercooler, and a modified intake manifold.

The RS2 Avant could reach 48,2 km/h from a standstill in 1,5 seconds, and that was faster than the fastest supercar of that era, the McLaren F1. An estate that accelerated faster than a McLaren F1 — the most astonishing performance comparison in automotive history of the nineties.

All RS2s were built entirely in Porsche's own factory in Zuffenhausen and can be identified by a WAC… chassis number. An Audi with a Porsche chassis number — the most special vehicle identification number in Volkswagen Group history.

The RS2 launched the RS badge that Audi uses to this day for its more extreme sports models. Without the RS2, there would be no RS4, RS6, or RS e-tron GT. The understated estate from 1994 created a legacy that is still active more than thirty years later.

The RS badge that is still used on the fastest Audis

Competitors

The S2 and RS2 competed in the high-performance compact sports car segment. Direct competitors were:

• BMW M3 E36 (sportier but no AWD)
• Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evo
• Ford Escort RS Cosworth
• Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evoluzione

Successor model

The direct successor to the S2 was the Audi S4 B5 from 1997. The RS2 was succeeded by the RS4 B5 from 2000 — also built on the B5 platform with a biturbo 2,7-liter V6 producing 380 hp. With this, the RS tradition established by the RS2 definitively became a permanent part of Audi's model range.