1994 AUDI 80

If you are yet to reach the point in your life where you've realised the estate car is the greatest motor ever put on God's green earth, pull up a chair and let us enlighten you.

Most people wouldn't bat an eyelid. That's the beauty of it. Under the radar, minding its own business, looking every inch the sensible family motor. That is, until you notice the 17” Cup-style wheels, the subtle Porsche badges, and that Nogaro Blue paint job.

This is the Audi RS2 Avant. The original wolf in sheep's clothing. The definition of if you know, you know.

The Clever Stuff

Introduced in 1994, the RS2 was the first Audi to wear the now-legendary RS badge. Audi didn't go it alone, bringing Porsche into the mix to turn a perfectly sensible estate into something altogether akin to wizardry.

The RS2 combined Audi's legendary Quattro four-wheel drive with Porsche engineering, hardware and a fair amount of know-how, accelerated by it being hand-assembled at Porsche's Zuffenhausen facility by its top engineering boffins.

The Result?

One of the most important performance estates ever built.

And not a single BTCC wing or unconvincing Group B homage detail in sight.

Under the bonnet sits a 2.2-litre, 20-valve, turbocharged five-cylinder engine producing 311 bhp, mated to a six-speed manual gearbox and permanent Quattro four-wheel drive. Audi quoted 0-62 mph in 4.8 seconds (which is disputed to range up to 5.4 seconds), with a top speed of 163 mph. In 1995.

One thing Audi didn’t reveal, however, was the RS2 Avant’s party trick. Autocar recorded the RS2 sprinting from 0-30 mph faster than a McLaren F1. Granted, we're talking the first 30 mph rather than ¼ mile, but it makes quite the point. The school run never sounded so good.

Not Just Skin Deep

The RS2 received Porsche-developed engine upgrades, as well as high-performance braking components, 17-inch Cup-style alloy wheels, 993-gen 911 exterior mirrors and revised suspension borrowed from the Porsche 968 Clubsport and the learnings of the Porsche 959.

Underneath, Audi's Quattro system provides the traction, with a Torsen centre differential and a locking rear differential, guaranteed to keep you and it planted to the ground below.

And then there's the turbo. It’s peak ‘90s; give it some, let it gather its bearings, and the boost arrives with that unmistakable seat-pinning punch. Driving the RS2 conjures a sense of occasion, as the way it delivers its performance is something tangible. It’s a far cry from the point-and-shoot RS models of today.

The Audi RS2 Avant is gloriously of its time; a champion of analogue, mechanical and visceral dynamics that make cars like this a joy to drive and own.

This particular example, available through Duke's Quality Motors at Duke of London, is a 1995 RS2 Avant finished in the colour you really want on this car: Nogaro Blue. Sitting on a set of 17-inch Cup-style alloy wheels shrouding red Porsche-branded brake callipers, and wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport N3 rubber, this is the spec that makes the RS2 the formidable machine it is.

Inside, you’ll find the highly desirable combination of blue Alcantara and black leather adorning the Recaro bucket seats, complemented by a three-spoke leather steering wheel and carbon-fibre accents that complete the picture. It’s the stuff of proper 1990s performance-car business, without a single ounce of unconvincing Group B retro pastiche.

The Big Stuff

A genuine UK-supplied, right-hand-drive example, this RS2 has covered 168,000 miles over its 30-plus years on the road.

It's a car with a life behind it, and it comes with an extensive history file containing documentation relating to its ownership, maintenance and ongoing care. That paperwork matters, particularly on a car of this age and importance, where the story behind the odometer is every bit as significant as the number itself.

This example presents in absolutely immaculate condition. Nogaro Blue, the right interior, the right specification and a substantial history file to accompany it.

You wouldn't expect anything less from Duke of London, would you?

Top Trumps

Just 2,891 Audi RS2 Avants were produced worldwide, with around 180 built in right-hand drive. That makes a genuine UK-supplied example such as this a diamond, one only enhanced by the fact that this car was what started Audi’s RS sub-brand. Every modern RS model owes something to the idea that a practical family car could be every bit as serious about performance as the supercar lined up at the traffic lights beside it.

While faster, newer machinery has come and gone, the original has that tangible thing the rest can't replicate: that five-cylinder soundtrack, the turbocharged punch, the six-speed manual and the sheer absurdity of having all that performance wrapped up in a timeless estate. It's a connoisseur’s secret weapon, a landmark in Audi's history and, let's be honest, one of the best arguments for the estate car ever made.

What’s more, its extensive service history documents an underbody refurbishment in 2018 with marque specialist QSTuning, and this particular car was also selected for exhibit at the Goodwood Road Racing Club annual display in 2017, as well as featuring in various magazines, including a buyer’s guide feature in the August 2023 issue ofClassic & Sports Car,which includes an interview with the former owner.

We'll have a look. Of course we'll have a look.

The car is available to view by appointment at Duke of London’s West London showroom.

We also have a digital folder available on request, containing additional photographs, walkaround videos and further details, so you can have a good deep-dive before making the trip.

If the 1995 Audi RS2 Avant has been on your bucket list for a while, you know what you're looking at. And if it hasn't, well, this Nogaro Blue example might be the one that changes your mind.

Enquire by email. We'll take it from there.

The Nitty Gritty

Our Audi RS2 Avant also comes with a roof rack, sunroof, electrically adjustable Recaro seats, air conditioning, a Porsche CDR-21 stereo, updated Pioneer speakers, a modified Bosch ECU from factory, an upgraded Milltek exhaust, Bilstein shock absorbers and 20mm-lower H&R springs.

The most recent service was performed in October 2023 at 167,690 miles, and saw QSTuning replace the engine oil, oil filter, pollen filter, sundries and brake fluid. A prior service in September 2019 resulted in QSTuning replacing the cambelt, V-belts, bottom pulley, front brake pads, boot trim, engine oil, oil filters, sundries, and driver’s door armrest, with further work done to repair the clutch pedal stop, driver’s seat runner, and electronic windows. MTM EEPROMs were programmed to replace faulty items, and a dynamometer test was carried out. The most recent MOT test was conducted on October 2, 2023, and saw the car pass the first time without any advisories.