Audi Celebrates 25 Years of RS with Party, Six New Models

Starting way back with a model built largely by Porsche and going forward until today when there are seven current models and 25 in the catalogue, Audi's RS brand has been the ultimate for quick cars with four rings in the grille. So Audi is celebrating 25 years with a display. And a somewhat shy announcement that there will be two new RS models coming this year.

That very first RS arrived way back in 1994. the RS 2 Avant was a joint venture between Audi Sport (then just known as quattro) and Porsche. The hot wagon was based on the Audi 80, but saw extensive revisions. Like a 2.2L 20v turbo five-cylinder. It put down a total of 315 hp and 302 lb-ft, making it the hottest wagon around. While it was Audi on the outside, plus some flared fenders, it was assembled by Porsche. At the same factory that built the Mercedes 500E and the Porsche 959. Its sub-five-second 0-100 km/h was astonishing at the time.

The next one arrived in 1999. A 2.7L V6-powered RS 4 Avant that made 380 hp instead of the S4's 265. That one got a cylinder head developed with help from Cosworth.

The following RS 4 went bigger. A V8 that could rev past 8,000 rpm that made 420 hp. That one came in convertible and sedan forms, not just the wagon.

Of course, the RS lineup expanded too. An RS 6 sedan and Avant with a twin-turbo V8 and 450 hp in 2002. Then the RS version of the TT with a 2.5L five-pot.

To celebrate, Audi is putting on a display of 14 RS models at the Audi Forum in Neckarsulm, Germany. The display includes the racing TT RS from 2011, and a prototype for an RS version of the R8 that never made it to production.

That's not all Audi is planning, though. They say there will be six new RS models this year. We're expecting those to include a new RS3, as well as revisions to the RS4 and 5. Those two all-new ones, though? Well, Audi definitely isn't ready to say just yet. What should we expect from Audi Sport next? The Q8 crossovers seems like a likely choice to get the RS Q8 treatment. With the twin-turbo V8 from the Lamborghini Urus just looking for a place to happen. For the other, is Audi ready for an RS e-tron? Maybe not. We'll have to wait and see. Until then, happy biRSday, Audi.

The RS models in chronological order:

Audi RS 2 Avant (1994): 2.2-liter five-cylinder turbo, 232 kW (326 metric horsepower)



 

Audi RS 4 Avant (2000): 2.7-liter V6 biturbo, 279 kW (380 metric horsepower)



 

Audi RS 6 Sedan and RS 6 Avant (2002): 4.2-liter V8 biturbo, 331 kW (450 metric horsepower);



from 2004 ‚Audi RS 6 plus, 353 kW (480 metric horsepower), limited to 999 cars