Audi might be best known for dominating the rally world in the 1980s with the introduction of Quattro, which was both a term for the company's all-wheel-drive system and a sports car often known as the Sport Quattro or Ur-Quattro. Today, Audi continues the Quattro heritage with stunning models like the R8 supercar, the RS7 Sportback, and the all-new RS6 Avant—and don't forget the electric lineup, which includes the e-tron and the e-tron GT concept.
But as great as Tony Stark looked behind the wheel of an R8 or an e-tron GT or no matter how awesome an RS Q8 might sound, one forgotten Audi stands out as the best of the best: the little-known RS2 Avant. Built in a partnership with Porsche, the RS2 Avant was Audi's first car to wear RS-badging and paired impressive power with a wagon's daily driveability, plus the all-weather confidence of Quattro all-wheel drive.
But Audi never sold the RS2 Avant in the United States. Why is that? The many reasons Audi never shipped the best car to wear four rings to America all boil down to some basic economics.
Everything Anyone Could Ever Need
The Audi RS2 Avant is everything anyone could ever need in a car, all wrapped up in one quintessentially 1990s package. With seating for five, plus plenty of room for the dog and groceries in the boxy canopy out back, the RS2 works for moms and dads. Plus, the kids in the back seat are going to be stunned when the power of that raspy turbo-five under the hood hits boost, producing a peak of 315 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque.
Based on the base Audi 80, the RS2 featured plenty of modifications that vaunt it into rare territory. Audi was already famous for the 2.2-liter turbo-five, though it received a larger K03 turbocharger, upgraded fuel injectors, a bigger radiator and intercoolers, a new camshaft, a performance-oriented ECU, and a revised exhaust system featuring high-flow catalytic converters.
Porsche's contributions to the RS2 came about after Stuttgart achieved world-record status with the 959, which was a roadgoing supercar based on the 911 but featuring all-wheel drive and advanced suspension components. Working together, Porsche built every RS2 directly next door to the 911's factory, adding 911 components like Brembo brakes, wheels, mirrors, and lights—as well as revising the suspension to a 1.6-inch lower ride height than the Audi 80.
Shuttle The Crew To The Slopes
Throw in Torsen-based Quattro all-wheel drive with a manually locking rear differential and the RS2 was faster off the line than a McLaren F1, as well as faster to 60 miles per hour than a Lamborghini Countach.
All of the above sounds great, making the RS2 a prime candidate for importation to the United States now that the 25-year rule has elapsed since the model's 1994 introduction. But that importation process won't be especially easy, and nearly impossible for some residents in American states like California.
Predecessor And Successor
Audi knew that federalizing the RS2 would be expensive—and nearly impossible to justify given that only 2,200 of the cars were ever built. After all, Americans don't particularly love wagons, nor do they seem hot to trot on hot hatches. Even though Volkswagen's own Golf R and GTI rule the roost when it comes to hot hatches on these shores, other manufacturers like Ford, Mazda, and Hyundai have struggled with the likes of the Focus RS, Mazda 3, and Veloster.
Audi originally didn't even want the RS2 to be a hatchback-wagon at all, but Porsche insisted on the layout once it became clear that the RS2 would be so potent it would rival the 911 in terms of performance.
Rally-Bred Interior With Room For Everyone
Meanwhile, American consumers pretty much ignore rally racing, which was and is one of the RS2's main calling cards. Still, with the 25-year rule having elapsed and plenty of RS2 examples waiting just north of the border in Canada, fans of this limited-edition superwagon are obviously salivating at the chance to get behind the wheel.
But anyone in the mind to get ahold of Audi's best car ever should hold on—reliability concerns were huge for Audi during those years and the RS2 was so limited in number, with so many special parts from both Audi and Porsche, that when (not if) anything does go wrong, maintenance and service will be remarkably expensive. Meanwhile, values are all over the map, as some collectors want originality and are willing to act like the car is a Porsche, while others want fun driving and think the car is just another 1990s tuner special.
But everyone can agree that life would just be much better if Audi had shipped the RS2 Avant to the United States in the first place.
Sources: Jalopnik, Motor Biscuit, and Car and Driver.