Audi Celebrates 25 Years of RS with Exhibition of Rare Cars
Collection of rare and mainstream RS models celebrates extended run of peak Audi performance and innovation.
Since the Audi RS 2 Avant debuted a whopping 25 years ago, RS has stood for the peak of Audi performance. Their philosophy is perfection, prestige, and exclusiveness, pushing the limits of what’s feasible without sacrificing everyday driveability. Cars like the TT RS and RS A4 Avant have also pushed the technological envelope over the last two and a half decades, ushering in a series of innovations. And now, to mark this silver anniversary, the automaker has put together a very special display at the Audi Forum in Neckarsulm.
This gathering of RS models includes, of course, a slathering of production models. But it also features 14 rare RS vehicles that have rarely seen public display. Racing machines like the 2011 Audi TT RS developed for the factory-backed Nürburgring effort. And the RS 5 DTM race touring car that was triumphant in the 2013 season. Those two cars are joined by an Audi RS 8 that never made it to production, as well as an RS 4 Sedan sporting custom paint designed by Brazilian pop artist Romero Britto.
It’s a well-curated lineup designed to showcase Audi’s legendary RS lineup. “Every RS model expresses the passion that we put into developing our high-performance cars,” said Oliver Hoffmann, Managing Director of Audi Sport GmbH. “For 25 years, our customers have been experiencing the RS models as masterful companions for everyday life that convey pure emotion and maximum driving enjoyment.”
It all began not too long ago in 1994 with the Audi RS 2 Avant. This car debuted Audi’s now legendary four-valve, five-cylinder engine, which is still in use today. The car’s Quattro drive with self-locking center differential has also proven quite capable in motor racing and rallying. Not to mention street use.
Five years later, the Audi RS 4 Avant debuted with its innovative 2.7-liter biturbo V6. Audi collaborated with Cosworth Technology to develop the cylinder head, revised intake and exhaust ports, and cross section air ducts. Regardless, Audi never rested on their laurels. The second generation of the RS 4 debuted in 2005, introducing a number of motorsports-derived innovations. Its high-revving direct-injected V8 was a proper revolution, maxing out at a lofty 8,250 rpm.
Audi continued to raise the bar with its RS6 Avant in 2008. That car utilized a newly developed V10 engine with FSI direct injection, biturbo charging, and dry sump lubrication. And in 2011, Audi’s new RS 3 Sportback returned the RS philosophy to the compact class. Mainly by using the engine that made it famous in the first place – an inline-five cylinder powerplant.
Today, Audi touts a total of seven RS model vehicles in its current lineup. And while each is wholly unique, they all symbolize the peak of their respective class. Because while the engines that power them and the technology underneath their skin might vary greatly over the last 25 years, all RS models share one important thing in common. They are the spearheads of their respective product lines, the ultimate versions of what’s possible at the given time.
Photos: Audi
