Audi RS2

The Audi RS2 Avant was a limited edition, high performance Audi station wagon sold from 1994 to 1995.

History

The RS2 was the product of a co-development project between Audi and Porsche, based on Audi's 80 Avant (station wagon) and built at Porsche's Zuffenhausen plant in Germany. The vehicle was powered by a modified version of Audi's 2.2 litre, 20-valve turbocharged 5-cylinder engine producing 315PS (232kW) at 6500rpm.

In order to extract a lot of power from the small engine, several changes were made. Porsche switched out the stock KKK turbocharger for a larger unit, then added a re-designed camshaft, larger fuel injectors, a heavy-duty intercooler, a more efficient induction system and a low-pressure exhaust system, then re-tuned the Bosch-supplied engine management software which included adjusting engine timing. With so much power available, the RS2 could power from 0 to 100km/h (0 to 62mph) in 4.8seconds and achieve a maximum speed of 262km/h (163mph) [restricted], despite weighing over 3,000 pounds (1400 kg).

In a road test conducted in 1995, the British car magazine, Autocar, timed the RS2 in an acceleration run from 0 to 30 mph, at just 1.5 seconds, which they confirmed was faster than both the McLaren F1 road car and also Jacque Villeneuve's Formula 1 car of that time.

To help make sure the vehicle was controllable, it came standard with Audi's Quattro all-wheel-drive system, and Porsche replaced the 80-spec brakes and suspension with systems of their design, lowering it 1.6 inches (4 cm) and giving it the handling and braking capabilities of a high-end sports car. New, 17 inch (432 mm) wheels and 245/40ZR17Dunlop tires were standard.

A 3-spoke leather steering wheel, Recaro sports-bucket seats (available in full-leather or a leather-suede combination) and console materials in either Wood or Carbon Trim rounded out the vehicle's interior changes.

Approximately 2200 RS2s were built in total. There was also an S2.