Audi RS2 Avant

The Audi RS 2 Avant, usually known as Audi 80 RS 2, was a limited edition, high-performance Audi five-door, five-seat estate car (station wagon), manufactured from March 1994 to July 1995.ETKA official factory data Collaboratively designed as a joint venture between Audi AG and Porsche and built on Audi's 80 Avant, designated internally as P1 (instead of B4/8C that it was based on). It was Audi's first " RS" vehicle,Audi of America Press Sit
25 Years of Audi Quattro
22 February 2005 and the first of their high-performance Avants (Audi's name for an estate car or station wagon), and thus created the high performance station wagon segment; it used the most powerful and most thoroughly developed version of Audi's inline-five cylinder turbocharged engine.

Although it was not widely exported outside of Europe, except for a few to Hong Kong, South Africa, Brazil, Canada, the United States and New Zealand, the RS 2 has amassed a cult following worldwide, and it is often regarded as being the vehicle that finally firmly established Audi as a producer of practical high-performance vehicles: its estate body, seating for five persons, and Audi's 'trademark' quattro permanent four-wheel-drive system as standard made it usable as a comfortable daily driver, even in poor weather conditions.

Overview

The RS 2 was the product of a co-development project between Audi and Porsche, based on Audi's 80 Avant, and built on the Audi B4 platform. It was powered by a modified version of their inline-five DOHC four valves per cylinder (20 valves total) turbocharged petrol engine (parts code prefix: 034, identification code: ADU). This internal combustion engine produced a motive power output of at 6500 rpm and at 3000 rpm of torque. Although much of the car's underpinnings were manufactured by Audi, assembly was handled by Porsche at their Rossle-Bau plant in Zuffenhausen, Germany, which had become available after discontinuation of the Mercedes-Benz 500E, which Porsche had manufactured there under contract. The Rossle-Bau plant also produced the famous Porsche 959.

Like the rest of the vehicle, the RS 2's five-cylinder engine was based on a unit that Audi already produced, although Porsche considerably modified the engine; the standard KK&K turbocharger was switched for a larger unit, along with a heavy-duty intercooler and higher flow fuel injectors, a newly designed camshaft, a more efficient induction system, and a low-pressure exhaust system replaced the standard fare; a specially modified URS4/URS6 Bosch-supplied engine control unit (ECU) controlled the engine.

With so much power available, the RS 2 could accelerate from 0 to in 4.8 seconds, and achieve a maximum speed of (electronically restricted), despite weighing over . In a road test conducted in 1995, British car magazine '' Autocar'' timed the RS 2 from 0 to at just 1.5 seconds, which they confirmed was faster than the McLaren F1 road car. Even by more modern standards, its performance is exceptional; it could accelerate on-par with the 5th generation Chevrolet Corvette (C5) and a 996 generation Porsche 911.

A six-speed manual gearbox (parts code prefix: 01E, identification code: CRB) (gear ratios - 1st: 3.500, 2nd: 1.889, 3rd: 1.320, 4th: 1.034, 5th: 0.857, 6th: 0.711) was the only transmission choice. Audi's Torsen-based 'trademark' quattro permanent four-wheel drive system was standard. Front and rear final drive units contained a conventional 'open' differential, and have a ratio of 4.111, although the rear (parts code prefix: 01H, identification code: AZE) also has an electro-mechanical diff lock.

Porsche-designed braking and suspension systems replaced the standard Audi 80 equipment, however, the Bosch Anti-lock braking system (ABS) was retained. The front brakes feature either in diameter by thick radially ventilated disc brakes, and use Brembo four-opposed piston fixed calipers, or a 'modified' option of larger discs (which will only fit under a 17" wheel) of by , with uprated brake pads. The rears featured by radially vented discs, again with Brembo four-piston calipers, and the 'modified' option included identical sized discs, but merely included cross-drilling, along with uprated pads. The hand brake worked on the rears, and consisted of a cable operated 'drum in disc' system.

lower than a standard 80 Avant, the suspension and braking upgrades combined to give the RS 2 the handling and braking capabilities of a high-end sports car; 7.0Jx17 inch Porsche 'Cup' wheels, and high-performance 245/40 ZR17 Dunlop tyres were standard as well. In fact, the braking system wore Porsche-badged Brembo calipers, and both the wheels and side mirrors were identical in design to those of the 964 Turbo. Additionally, the word "PORSCHE" is inscribed in the RS 2 emblem affixed to the rear tailgate and front grille.

A three-spoke leather steering wheel, Recaro sports-bucket seats (available in full leather or a leather/suede combination), and console materials in either wood or carbon fiber trim rounded out the vehicle's interior changes. Audi's proprietary Safety Restraint System, procon-ten remained from its donor vehicle.

Audi also produced an S2, which was available both as an Avant (estate) and a Coupé, as well as saloon model with only 306 examples built. It featured a similar turbocharged five-cylinder engine which delivered (3B engine), or (ABY engine).

Audi RS2 13.12.20 JM (2).jpg, Rear view
Audi RS2 13.12.20 JM (4).jpg, Factory mirror (from a Porsche 993)
Audi RS2 13.12.20 JM (5).jpg, Audi RS 2 emblem
Audi RS2 13.12.20 JM (6).jpg, Factory 7.0 J × 17 in Porsche 'Cup' wheels and Brembo brakes (from a Porsche 964)
RS2 rear.jpg, Audi RS 2 Avant
Audi RS2 Avant .jpg, Audi RS 2 Avant

See also

* Audi S and RS models

References

External links

Audi.com
Audi corporate website

{{DEFAULTSORT:Audi Rs2 Avant
Cars introduced in 1994
RS2
Porsche
All-wheel-drive vehicles
Executive cars
Mid-size cars
Sports cars
Station wagons