Tag Archives: Audi Sport

The Audi RS2 Is A Porsche-Built Amazing Oddity From The 1990s

The Audi RS2 is one of the automaker’s most intriguing performance models and Doug DeMuro recently picked up the keys to one.

In the 1990s, Audi was struggling and decided to launch a new performance car. To make the RS2 a reality, it recruited the help of Porsche and set about creating a go-fast version of the 80 Avant. This was the result.

Watch Also: The Audi RS2 Is An Incredible Machine That You Can Now Enjoy In The U.S.

Porsche outfitted Audi’s 2.2-liter inline-five engine with a larger turbocharger, a larger intercooler, a bespoke ECU and a new camshaft, among others. All up, it delivered 311 hp and 302 lb-ft (410 Nm) of torque, which were pretty impressive figures for a station wagon in the early 1990s. With a 0-60 mph (96 km/h) time of 4.8 seconds, DeMuro says it was so quick that it took Audi a decade to produce a road-legal car that could out-accelerate the RS2.

It’s not just the engine that Porsche worked on. The RS2 also features Porsche brakes, wheels from a 911 Turbo, and a bespoke suspension setup, again done by Porsche. In fact, the RS2 was actually built at Porsche’s factory.

So, why did Audi tap Porsche on the shoulder to build the RS2? Well, it’s quite simple. At the time, Audi didn’t have the reputation needed to produce a high-performance street car like the RS2, despite its motorsport success. By linking up with Porsche, it got the credibility it needed. As for Porsche, it agreed to the deal as it was near bankruptcy at the time and simply needed the money.

[embedded content]

The Audi RS2 Is An Incredible Machine That You Can Now Enjoy In The U.S.

<!––>

<!––>

While the United States sadly misses out on many exciting vehicles that enthusiasts in Europe get to enjoy, the 25-year importation rule does mean that buyers can get their hands on some older, but still pretty impressive, machines such as the Audi RS2.

The German car manufacturer produced the car between March 1994 and July 1995 with the help of Porsche. The RS2 was based on the Audi 80 Avant of the day and was also the company’s first ‘RS’ model.

Read Also: Audi’s Gorgeous New RS6 Avant ‘Tribute’ Edition Pay Homages To The Original RS2 Avant

The RS2 is powered by a turbocharged inline-five-cylinder pumping out 311 hp at 6,500 rpm and 302 lb-ft (410 Nm) of torque at 3,000 rpm. This engine was based on a existing five-cylinder, to which Audi made a number of significant alterations including the fitment of a larger turbocharger, a heavy-duty intercooler, higher-flow fuel injectors, a newly designed camshaft, and a bespoke exhaust system.

According to the manufacturer, the RS2 can accelerate to 62 mph (100 km/h) in a mere 4.8 seconds and continue through to an electronically limited top speed of 163 mph (262 km/h).

The stunning blue example featured in the video was only recently imported into the country. Interestingly, it is the second RS2 owned by the same person and, with fewer than 3,000 examples produced worldwide, it has all the makings of a collectible, especially in the United States where there is probably just a handful around.

[embedded content]

BMW M8 Competition Takes On Mercedes-AMG GT R And Audi R8 On The Track

The M8 Competition is BMW’s most powerful production vehicle ever, but despite bearing this bold title, it’s by no means a supercar. Nevertheless, it’s got supercar-like performance and can put a really big smile on the face of its driver.

So, the most powerful Bimmer ever can smoke a lot of big names in a straight line, with the 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) taking 3.1 seconds in the Competition Convertible. In this spec, the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 pumps out 617 HP (625 PS / 460 kW) and 553 lb-ft (750 Nm) of torque, and the car has an MSRP of $155,500 in the U.S.

Watch Also: New BMW M8 Competition Is A 616 HP Super GT Ready To Crush Continents

We know what it can do on paper, but how does it translate into the real world, when its rivals are two open-top supercars and the battle ground is the Lausitzring circuit? AutoBildSportsCars had the M8 Competition Convertible pitted against the Mercedes-AMG GT R Roadster and Audi R8 Performance Spyder, to see which one is faster around the German track.

Before checking out the video below, let’s talk specs – and more specifically, those of the other two competitors. The GT R Roadster is powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 that puts out 577 HP (585 PS / 430 kW) and 516 lb-ft (700 Nm). The 0-60 mph (0-100 km/h) sprint takes 3.5 seconds in this model, which starts at $189,750.

The 5.2-liter naturally aspirated V10 in the R8 Performance Spyder, on the other hand, develops 611 HP (620 PS / 456 kW) and 427 lb-ft (579 Nm) in the Euro-spec version, which was the one put to the test, for a 0-60 mph of 3.1 seconds. The U.S. model comes with 602 HP (610 PS / 449 kW) and 413 lb-ft (560 Nm), and adds two tenths of a second to the sprint time, while pricing starts at $208,100.

[embedded content]