Audi RS2
. The original fast Audi estate. The template for a host of subsequent RS Avants, some rather better than others. A car that celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2014.
You've spotted the matt black roof rails. yes?
So how best to mark the occasion? Well
the RS4
is now the RS2's spiritual successor, the RS2 was famously fettled by Porsche and Audi now has Porsche under its wing. A dose of Stuttgart dynamic magic sprinkled on that stunning RS4 powertrain would just be right, wouldn't it?
Unfortunately the dream of a 21st century RS2 will have to remain just that for now. A special RS4 has been commissioned for two decades of the RS2, but it's nothing more than a paint job disappointingly. There's no doubt an RS4 in Nogaro Blue does look bloomin fabulous, but it smacks of cynical cashing in on heritage more than anything else.
The homage by hue RS4 gets more Nogaro Blue inside, with the option of it featuring on the seat's centre section and the door cards. It's bold, but again looks great in a nod to the past. Blue stitching for the armrest and wheel is also available, with matching piping for the mats too.
Bar some black accents outside including the exhaust tips, everything else is standard RS4. The 4.2 V8 makes the same 450hp and 317lb ft and there are no tweaks to the seven-speed DSG or 4WD.
The RS4 Nogaro will be shown at Geneva. At present, it will be available in Europe as a limited edition later this year with UK production 'still under discussion'. But if it doesn't make it to the UK and you still want a fast Audi estate with a Porsche flavour, how about a Riviera Blue RS4?