R Rated

The raciest letter in motoring history

- Matt Boyd

Performance, Sport Racing—the superlatives we rely on to denote automotive excitement. You can’t spell any of them without the letter “R,” and you can’t tell the history of enthusiast motoring without discussing the dozens of important R models that have spiced up the automotive landscape. From simple trim packages to full-on racing specials, the R is everywhere: RS, R/T, GT-R, Type R, R-Code—for more than 50 years it has been the character of choice for manufacturers of every type, every stripe, and every corner of the globe to denote their fastest, lightest, most powerful cars. We decided to collect a bunch of the most important—or at least the most interesting!—and pay tribute to their capabilities and collectability by showcasing some of the diecast models patterned after them. And with that we give you our favorite R-rated performance machines!

AUDI

Audi’s performance tradition traces all the way back to the Auto Union days before World War II, and it has always hinged upon bold technical innovation. Audi’s signature achievement traces back to the late-1970s: the “Quattro” all-wheel-drive (AWD) system. After successfully lobbying the FIA to allow AWD technology into the World Rally Championship, Audi helped launch the wild Group B era and won the championship twice. Audi named its in-house performance division after that dominant rally car and launched its own ultra-performance street car in 1994 called the RS 2. It has since expanded the RS line to no fewer than nine models encompassing 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and TT body styles.