Cars

Audi’s first RS car was the Audi RS2 Avant.

In the early 90s, Audi’s ambition was to create a car combining high performance and everyday practicality to rival brands such as BMW and Mercedes. However, Audi found itself in a bit of a quandary with this project, having never undertaken such an initiative in the past. As a result, Ingolstadt turned to Porsche for expertise.

Essentially, Audi took over the chassis and body design from the more ordinary Audi 80 saloon. These components were then shipped to Porsche, which worked its magic. The Audi RS2 was almost as much a Porsche as an Audi, as the brakes, wheels and tires were borrowed from the Porsche 968 Clubsport. The Zuffenhausen-based brand has also improved the engine and added a six-speed manual gearbox for optimum performance.

The engine in question was a turbocharged 2.2-liter five-cylinder, similar to that of the original Quattro. However, Porsche did install a KKK turbocharger that propelled the RS2 to 315 hp and 410 Nm of torque. Despite a slight turbo lag, it could reach 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds, putting it on a par with a Ferrari 456 at the time.