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Choose Your Favorite Child: The RS2 or the RS4?

Andrew — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 02:12:46 +0000

Audi’s highly sporting ultra performance group, quattro GmbH, has always had a soft spot for combining understatement and envelope pushing performance into one nice, neat package. Those needing examples I can only point you to cars like the C5 platform RS6 Avant+ or the all-new B8 S4 sedan with its potent supercharged V6 and massively understated looks. Cars like the C6 RS6 or B7 RS4 push understated looks with over-the-top power to new peaks with their respectively power figures of 570+ and 420 horsepower - from mid-size sedans and station wagons.

However, there were two cars that came prior to the C5/6 RS6 or B7/8 S4. Two cars, that for many, defined the quattro GmbH group as they transitioned from a small tuning division only making a few cars a year to a full shop churning out thousands of cars a year as they do these days. These two cars are the coveted B4 RS2 and B5 RS4.

The RS2 was the first Audi to truly carry extreme power in a subdued cladding as it was based on the B4 platform Audi 80 Avant. However, while the original platform was provided by Audi, much of the modification process was done by Porsche at the Zuffenhausen facility right after Porsche had come off of the production of Mercedes 500E. Audi delivered the shells of the 80 Avants to Porsche who would in turn slap a bigger turbo on the engine along with revised camshafts, a reworked suspension and a full, Porsche-developed braking system. Porsche even provided mirrors from the 964 as well as the Cup wheels. For those possibly doubting Porsche’s overall involvement in the development of the RS2, Audi gave them a little spot on the badging front and rear of the wagon along with an engine cover stamped “Powered by PORSCHE.”

What did the collaboration add up to? A small little wagon with permanent four-wheel-drive and a sub-5 second 0 to 60 time. Impressive by today’s standards and this car went out of production by 1996! It was tested and proved that the 0 to 30mph time of the RS2 was actually a hair quikcer than that of the then-reigning car of the world, the McLaren F1 and, unbelievably, faster than the Williams Formula One car. So, with Audi’s first jump into hot wagons they had created a car that was keeping up with Porsche(ironically) 911s and Ferrari 355 Bernlinettas of the day - impressive for a station wagon. This same car also spurred on a cult following of the RS2 and firmly planted the idea in many European minds that Audi can built very fast, competent vehicles.

However, Audi’s follow-up to the RS2 - could that have been their ultimate sleeper?

The RS4 was the successor to the RS2 after all. The RS4 carried with it many of the same traits of the RS2 with the blistered wheel arches, beefier tires and brakes as well as a tuned engine and modified suspension. However, the RS4 was not the brainchild of Audi and Porsche but a collaboration between Audi and the engine great Cosworth. Cosworth took the 2.7L turbocharged engine that was originally in the B5 S4. After they were done with the engine modifications, the Cosworth-tuned V6 was pushing out 380HP - well over 100HP from the S4 - mated to permanent all-wheel-drive and a six speed manual. Other performance features were enlarged ducts for airflow to the larger turbos, increased airflow to the braking systems to keep the large discs cool. Like the RS2, the RS4 also returned to users a 0 to 60 time below the 5 second mark all while from a mid-size station wagon. However, at one point where they differed was that the RS4 was a tuner’s dream come true. Tuning firms such as MTM and Sportec had a field day with providing upgrades to the RS4 for horsepower figures well in excess of the stock 380HP. The B5 RS4 is also the weapon of choice of many European track junkies as you can find an RS4 at most track days along side BMW CSLs and Caterhams ready to lower their most recent lap times.

But which would you choose? The father or the son? The RS2 helped put the RS brand on the map with a hot station wagon. However, it was really the RS4 that gained the traction and wide-spread knowledge that the RS2 didn’t have as it was popular primarily with enthusiasts. They turn around similar performance figures while both providing the convenience of a family car - which would you chose if it was your money? For me, it has to be the RS4 - a car that has always been compelling to me, somewhat timeless with the styling and undeniably fast. However, I’d love to know - what do you think? Would you drive away with the RS2 or the RS4?

Wagons - Audi’s odd niche

Andrew — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 20:29:40 +0000

In the U.S., wagons haven’t been popular since the early 80’s when, if you didn’t own a Ford LTD Country Squire, then you and your family were a bunch of punks. Once the 1980’s and the likes of the Griswold Family Truckster began to move on, wagons in the U.S. found themselves being replaced quickly by SUV’s like the Jeep Cherokee or Wagoneer.

However, Europe and much of the rest of the world still found use in wagons for those people who wanted the driving dynamics and size of a sedan with the convenience of a something with a bigger boot. Audi agreed with the rest of the world with the release of it’s B4 platform-based 80 Avant model in the early 1990’s - the precursor to the first A4 platform(B5 platform).

Audi then did one better and essentially built the concept for it’s then-new wagon-based supercars with the Audi RS2 Avant. The Rs2 produced nearly 315 horsepower and returned a 0 to 60mph time of under 5 seconds - very impressive by 1994 standards and still impressive today, 15 years later.

Audi’s very handsome blend of convenience and practicality coupled with outright performance proved to be a smart and successful package as Audi gave the public the S4 Avant and later the RS4 Avant on it’s B5 A4 platform. The B5 RS4 Avant again moved the game with a wagon that could deliver Porsche-topping horsepower, nevermind BMW or Mercedes in this segment, coupled with seating for 5 and a dog and luggage in the back.

As the Audi brand began to quickly evolve into a full range of vehicles, Audi began to develop more and more wagons with vehicles like the Audi Allroad - a wagon-only platform based off of the C5 A6 platform to the standard B6 and B7 A4 Avants to the C5 RS6 Avant - though never sold in the U.S., the sedan versus of the C5 RS6 was a tremendous hit while the Avant enjoyed success abroad.

But what is about Audi wagons, especially the powerhouse wagons, that make them so alluring? Many people don’t like them after all, as the thought is a wagon is traditionally a soccer mom car that no guy would ever want. Well, they’re so beloved probably because of the unparalleled “Q car” factor they carry by design.

And who would ever expect a wagon to carry a low-yield nuke for an engine? Audi has always excelled at this. Overshadowing BMW’s M Division and AMG Branch of Mercedes with its quattro GmBH, Audi’s understated wagons have made it cool to own a wagon again. Across Europe at any track day, you’d be hard-pressed to not find an Audi RS2 or RS4 wagon carving up Eau Rouge at Spa or Becketts at Silverstone.

And this is where Audi has built one of it’s best niches: Autobahn and track-crushing wagons that have yet to be rivaled in terms of packaging by brands both on their level and well above. Hopefully, those of us stateside will continue to receive these wonderful soccer-mom-on-steroids cars as Audi moves forward in the further development of the niche for which it has become nearly intrinsically linked.

The Legend: The Audi quattro

Andrew — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 05:59:17 +0000

Many companies have that quintessential car that defined their brand as it burned an image of a company at it’s peak into the minds of millions. BMW had the 2002tii which put it on the map. Mercedes had the SL which is one of the most recognizable sports cars of all time, Porsche has the ubiquitous 911.

For Audi, their definitive car is the Audi quattro coupe - a quirky looking 2-door that forever changed the face of rallying forever and made Audi a household name in the early 1980’s. The quattro was launched in the Group B in the WRC as one of the first cars to feature permanent all-wheel-drive(hence quattro for 4WD) and came with huge success within the Group B series - and how couldn’t it be at the hands of Walter Rohrl?

After Group B was altered by rule changes and Audi decided not to pursue the change in regulations, the quattro was entered in the Pike’s Peak Hillclimb with staggering success, which then continued over the next few years, further cementing Audi’s reputation around the world as a the king of all-wheel-drive, but this time in the U.S. The quattro was a revolutionary car both on the road and off and a car Audi can credit for it’s heritage in 4WD to.

I’ve included a video below of the quattro S1 under the will of Herr Walter Rohrl but if you want to found out much more about the Audi quattro then surf over to The Cartorialist to read up on there review of the ultra rare Audi Sport Quattro.

Please ignore the music in this video - I had no control in that!

Click here to view the embedded video.