Monday 11th November 2019

Audi RS2 1994 advert | Time for Tea

This old tape has surfaced during ongoing 25th anniversary celebrations for the legendary RS2

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It's an illustration of just how special the RS2 was that Audi Sport's first pure roadgoing product looks exotic even alongside the likes of its very latest R8 RWD. The 25-year-old 315hp estate's blend of Audi and Porsche engineering is the stuff of legend, the PH Hero bringing genuine supercar hardware and performance to a segment that had previously been the sole reserve of practical boxes. Bless the RS2 for creating a class that PHers have worshipped ever since, because nothing's cooler than a fast estate.

Audi's rightfully very proud of the achievement and, with its 25th anniversary upon is, it's fittingly happened to stumble across (or remade?) previously unreleased advert footage. Used in 1994 to publicise the car in America - where it was never officially sold - the tape resurfaces in the year that US buyers can finally access the RS2, thanks to it becoming exempt from the country's archaic, age-related import restrictions. Whether that's thanks to convenient timing or an opportunistic marketing plan for the new RS6 - also soon to arrive on US shores for the first time - we don't know. Or care. This advert makes for a brilliant nineties throwback for many reasons we need not list.

Certainly, all PHers - even those outside of the US - should find reason to celebrate the RS2's birthday, as it remains a true great. You may remember when Matt pitched Audi's performance legend against a modern equivalent, the 300hp SEAT Leon Cupra ST, a year ago, with somewhat predictable results in the RS2's favour. The RS2, as the nineties VHS footage reminds us, remains a marvel of engineering, with straight-line pace (including a 4.8-second 0-60mph time!) to rival the likes of Porsche's 968 Turbo S, not to mention a five-pot warble to trounce it.

In 2019, the model's perhaps more desirable than it's ever been, and that inevitably reflects on prices, with the trio of RS2s advertised on PH up for between £38k and £66k respectively. That might be a lot of money, but as far as motoring legends to carve a new niche go, this has to be one of the finest. We dare you not to soak up the RS2 heyday nostalgia with a brew in hand and this 1994 footage playing back.

[dapper]

Such a cool looking car, and that's coming from a youth of today.

[simon-tigjs]

They don't make adverts like that anymore...thank goodness ! Shame they dont make cars like that anymore either. Those were the days when Audi stood for something special. I loved my 2.2 100 Avant, my 2.8 100 quattro avant, ex MD of VAG with everything loaded and my Coupe quattro 2.3. I would love one of these in the garage as part of a collection.

[BFleming]

simon-tigjs said:

They don't make adverts like that anymore....

But they just did! It might have some clips from 25 years ago, but the majority of this video - including the cheesy voiceover - is brand new.

[anonymous-user]

I don't think any of it is from 25 years ago. It's just been made pastiche. I'd suggest Mr Stuck may not have looked that old at 52.

[Jex]

Where are they going to find enough to import to make this worthwhile?
One of my favourite ever cars. I strongly considered buying one about 10 years ago, but wasn't sure about LHD only.

[Baileyk]

Such a cool car the BHP, the colour, the Porsche connections all add to make it an icon.

[Wooda80]

Jex said:

Where are they going to find enough to import to make this worthwhile?
One of my favourite ever cars. I strongly considered buying one about 10 years ago, but wasn't sure about LHD only.

I sold a 1994 RS2 Avant to a doctor in Northern Ireland back in the early 2000s. I'm sure it was RHD?

[sr.guiri]

I so love this car's style....I'm a big 964 nut and those Cup alloys and the tear drop mirrors and the large horizontal rear light panel, even the front indicators are all so 964. They're even getting close to 964 prices now too.

I think having an RS2 parked next to the 964 in the garage would be all I'd need.

FABULOUS. I'd love to have one of these.

[Schermerhorn]

BFleming said:

simon-tigjs said:

They don't make adverts like that anymore....

But they just did! It might have some clips from 25 years ago, but the majority of this video - including the cheesy voiceover - is brand new.

Exactly. You can tell by the frame rate immediately.

[Cold]

Nine Twenty Four, Nine Forty Four. Almost as bad as Alacantara material.

[blade7]

Jex said:

Where are they going to find enough to import to make this worthwhile?
One of my favourite ever cars. I strongly considered buying one about 10 years ago, but wasn't sure about LHD only.

They came with RHD too. I looked for one about 8 years ago, some had questionable history...

[jeremyc]

Jex said:

Where are they going to find enough to import to make this worthwhile?
One of my favourite ever cars. I strongly considered buying one about 10 years ago, but wasn't sure about LHD only.

They made 172 RHD alongside the 1,800 or so LHD.

[AmosMoses]

Love how they put the mooning doll in the rear window

Original story on that here - https://jalopnik.com/audis-all-conquering-american...

[loveice]

jeremyc said:

Jex said:

Where are they going to find enough to import to make this worthwhile?
One of my favourite ever cars. I strongly considered buying one about 10 years ago, but wasn't sure about LHD only.

They made 172 RHD alongside the 1,800 or so LHD.

There are about 50-70 RHD survived...

[PaulPGreen]

Whilst it is a great ad, that is a spoof if ever I saw one!

As said, it’s all new made to look old.

[breezer_42]

Jex said:

Where are they going to find enough to import to make this worthwhile?

Why do they need to import any? Advertising is (at least) as much about brand awareness and emotive response as it is about a specific product.

[BFleming]

On the import thing, the 25 year rule is a big thing in the states. Basically any car that was not US road legal can't be imported to the US - there are 2 main exceptions - cars over 25 years old, or cars that are on a 'show & display' list. The last 'show & display' list came about because Bill Gates & someone else wanted to register a Porsche 959 back in the day, but couldn't. They lobbied, challenged the regulations, and over a decade later got the 'show & display' category accepted. It's an ever-growing list, some of the cars on there are now over 25 years old so they can be imported generally anyhow, but the list is mostly pretty exclusive. Oh, there's also a 2500 annual mileage limit for these cars. As of today, it looks like this:

Aston Martin DB7 Zagato Coupe 2003
Aston Martin Lagonda Taraf 2016
Aston Martin One-77 2011
Aston Martin V12 Zagato 2012–2013
Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato 2004
Aston Martin Vantage LeMans 1999–2000
Audi Sport Quattro 1984
Australian Ford Falcon XC Bathurst Cobra 1978
BMW Hossack K100RS Prototype M/C 1984
BMW M3 CRT 2012
BMW M3 Sport Evolution (UK Version) 1990
BMW Z1 1988–1991
Bugatti EB110 1992–1995
Cizeta-Moroder V16T 1994
Ferrari Enzo #400 (Pope John Paul II) 2005
Ford RS200 Evolution 1985–1986
Ford Sierra Cosworth RS 500 1986
Gruter & Gut (GG) Duetto Sidecar M/C 1997
Holden GTS-R 2000
Honda NR750 1992
Italdesign Aztec 1988
Jaguar XJ220 1992–1994
Koenigsegg One:1 2015
Lamborghini Diablo GT 1999
Land Rover Range Rover Vogue 25th Anniversary Final Edition 1995
Lotus Evora GTE F1 Limited Edition 2011
Lotus Carlton (LHD) 1990–1992
Maserati Ghibli Open Cup 1996–1997
Maserati MC12 2004–2005
Maserati Shamal 1991
Mazda Eunos JCES Cosmo Series II 1994–1995
McLaren F1 1993–1998
Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II 1990
Mercedes-Benz 560 SEL ex-Gorbachev Armored 1991
Mercedes-Benz AMG CLK-DTM Coupe 2005
Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM AMG Cabriolet 2006
Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR Coupe 1998–1999
Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR Roadster 2002
Mercedes-Benz G-500 Cabriolet Final Edition 200 2011, 2013
Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6x6 2013
Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR 722S 2009
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Stirling Moss 2009
MG TF 80th Anniversary Limited Edition (RHD/UK) 2004
Morgan Aeromax 2010
Nissan Nismo R32 Skyline GT-R (VINs BNR32-100000 through BNR32-100562) 1990
Nissan R34 Skyline GT-R M-Spec Nür 2002
Nissan Skyline GTR R34 V-SPEC Early Model Limited Edition 1999
Oullim Spirra S 2011
Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 1984–1985
Porsche 911 Carrera 4S (Last Made) 1998
Porsche 911 GT3 RS 2004
Porsche 911 Sport Classic 2010
Porsche 959 1987-1988
Porsche 964 Turbo Flat-Nose X83 1994
Porsche 964 Turbo S Leichtbau 1993
Porsche 968 Turbo S 1993
Porsche 993 Carrera RS GT2 1995–1996
Porsche GT1 1998
Porsche GT1 Strasseversion 1997
Rimac Automobili Concept One 2016
RMA Amphi-Ranger 2800 SR 1985–1995
Rover Mini Cooper S (Last 50 made) 2000
Subaru Impreza 22B STi 1998
Subaru Version-L Alcyone SVX 4WS 1992

[InitialDave]

Cold said:

Nine Twenty Four, Nine Forty Four. Almost as bad as Alacantara material.

I think it's deliberate, they're mocking the Americans.

[wolfracesonic]

An RS2 article and no mention it accelerates faster to 30mph than a McLaren F1? Standards are slipping.

[phumy]

Of course I am a little bias towards the RS2 , I've had mine for 5 years now and its a keeper, Ive had it fully refurbed underneath and it drives very nicely. It used to sit in the garage alongside a Lotus Carlton but that moved on and it's new stable mate is the amazing V12 Vantage S. The best of both worlds.