Auction Highlight: 1995 Audi RS2

Collaboration in all its forms can be an incredibly powerful tool, helping to achieve things that are far beyond the scope of individual effort. In the automotive world it can also lead from the sublime to the ridiculous, and almost everything in between.

However, when two iconic German marques put their heads together in the 1990s, it led to a car that would go on to achieve cult status among enthusiasts, courtesy of its captivating blend of performance and practicality: the fabled Audi 80 Avant RS2.

First produced in March 1994, the RS2 was the result of cooperation between Audi and Porsche, taking the standard 80 Avant model as the basis and transforming it into a giant-killing estate car. The model was built at Porsche’s manufacturing facility in Zuffenhausen and featured significant upgrades, most notably an enhanced 2.2-litre turbocharged five-cylinder engine, which was fitted with a larger turbocharger, a heavy-duty intercooler, higher-flow fuel injectors, a newly designed camshaft, a more efficient induction system, a low-pressure exhaust system, and a reprogrammed ECU.

Alongside its potent engine, the RS2 was fitted with Porsche-designed braking and suspension systems, 993-generation 911 door mirrors, 993 bumper-mounted front indicators, and Recaro sports-bucket seats.

The result was an all-season estate car that delivered 311bhp to all four wheels via a six-speed manual transmission and the Torsen-type Quattro system. It also represented the first in the marque’s now legendary ‘RS’ performance line. The RS2 was capable of sprinting from 0-62mph in just 4.8 seconds, and on to an electronically limited top speed of 163mph. These figures may not remarkable in comparison to contemporary super estates, but at the time it was offering pace on par with a Porsche 911, but in a refined and versatile package.

Over the years it has become a highly sought-after car among enthusiasts, though with fewer than 3,000 examples delivered worldwide, it represents a relatively rare find in the market. In January 2021 this 1995 Audi RS2 was offered for sale on Collecting Cars, which was a particularly impressiveg example of the cult classic, ticking all the boxes when it came to specification, maintenance, and condition.

One of only 180 original UK-supplied right-hand drive models, it was first registered in April 1995. Fast forward to 2014, and the car was acquired by a member of a prominent motorsport family in North America, who had purchased the RS2 to participate in a cross-country road trip across New Zealand, which the car suited given its right-hand-drive layout.

This RS2 was then dispatched from the UK to the other side of the world for around six months, before it was transported to North America, where it remained for the next five years – although it was never officially exported. In early 2020 it made its return to the UK, and in the summer of that same year it was acquired by a member of the Collecting Cars team.

The model was finished in the desirable hue of Ragusa Green, and had recently been treated to a front end respray to rectify stone chips gathered on its significant previous road trip. At the time of sale the exterior of the car was reported to be in superb condition, even down to the correct 17-inch ‘Cup’ Porsche alloy wheels, and benefitted from the headlight lenses and windscreen being previously replaced.

Inside, the black leather-trimmed cabin reflected the RS2’s low odometer reading of just 49,668 miles, with only minor creasing on the seat bolsters. It also retained its original features including the three-spoke steering wheel, supportive Recaro buckets seats, and its carbon-fibre trim inlays.

In the summer of 2020 this RS2 had been sent to Audi specialist The Phirm in Surrey, where technicians had carried out a full inspection, cam belt and pulley renewal, water pump overhaul, and a comprehensive service, including an engine oil and filter change, the gearbox oil changed, new fuel, air and pollen filters fitted, a new set of spark plugs, renewed the offside front differential seal, and repaired the nearside rear wheel and offside front bump stops.

Accompanying the car was a complete set of original owner’s manuals, and the stamped service booklet, which confirmed that this was a very well cared-for example with 19 stamped services from 1995 to 2020.

Overall, this 1995 Audi RS2 was a compelling example of the iconic performance car, which was not only presented in superb condition for its age, but also boasted low mileage, a handsome colour scheme, and a well-documented history. It attracted significant views and interest, and was secured with a winning bid of £77,000, which at the time of writing remains the world record auction price for an RS2 globally.