Audi RS2 Avant

With Porsche’s help, the maddest, baddest estate was born

- Matthew Hayward

WE’RE SPOILED for choice when it comes to fast estates these days. We could spend hours discussing the latest AMG, Alpina or even the excellent Volkswagen Golf R estate. Eventually, the conversation will circle back to Audis. It’s a niche that the company has made its own, and it’s all thanks to the ballistic RS2 Avant of 1994/95.

Based on the 80-derived S2, the first RS Audi was actually the result of a partnership with Porsche.Shells were shipped from Ingolstadt to the Rossle-Bau plant in Zuffenhausen, where Porsche engineers worked their magic. First, the regular 2.2-litre, 20-valve five-cylinder engine received a bigger KKK turbo –running at higher boost – along with high-lift camshafts, a new intercooler, bigger exhaust and high-flow fuel injectors. The result? A staggering 315bhp and 302lb ft.