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Which of these is your favourite Audi RS estate?

Audi celebrates 25 years of its RS models in the best way possible

  • Is there anything better than a fast estate? Big engines, bonkers power figures and enough space to bring a couple of dogs along for the ride? That sounds like heaven to us.

    Audi agrees. The German brand has of course produced a high proportion of the cars in this sector that we would consider to be among the greats. But here’s a tough question – given free reign, which would you most like to own?

    Handily, Audi has gathered a number of Avants together for its 25th anniversary of RS models. So, have a click through the gallery and then let us know which you’d pick…

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  • Audi RS2 Avant

    The RS2 is genesis. It wasn’t just Audi’s first fast estate, but in 1994 it was their first RS model altogether. After plenty of help from the good folks at Porsche, the 2.2-litre five-cylinder turbo engine produced 315bhp and 302lb ft of torque.

    With Quattro 4WD and huge amounts of boost, it was also famously quicker than the McLaren F1 in a 0-30mph sprint.

  • Audi RS4 Avant (Typ B5)

    The RS2’s successor didn’t arrive until 1999. This time there was a twin-turbo V6 under the bonnet that had been fettled by Cosworth, meaning max power was 375bhp – quite a jump from the S4 of the time's 261bhp.

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  • Audi RS6 Avant (Typ C5)

    The C5 RS6 was the first RS model to be offered in saloon form, but of course it’s the estate that you want. 

    Cosworth were again involved when it came to the engine, although this time it was a jackhammer of a twin-turbo 4.2-litre V8 producing 444bhp. At the time, that was enough to win the power war against both the BMW M5 and the Mercedes E55 AMG.

  • Audi RS4 Avant (Typ B7)

    Audi’s B6 A4 was never given the RS treatment, so it was a relief when the B7 was finally unveiled in 2005.

    This time around, turbocharging was ditched in favour of a naturally aspirated 4.2-litre V8 that revved to 8,250rpm and chucked out 414bhp. Incidentally, this was the engine that ended up in the first-generation Audi R8. Now that’s a claim to fame. 

  • Audi RS6 Avant (Typ C6)

    Launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2007, the C6 came with the now-famous all-aluminium 5.0-litre V10 that was closely related to the one in the Lamborghini Gallardo.

    A faintly ridiculous 572bhp meant many supercars could be embarrassed at the lights.

  • Audi RS4 Avant (Typ B8)

    The most recent Avant from Audi’s 25th anniversary celebrations is this V8-powered B8 RS4, and doesn’t it look resplendent in orange? That honeycomb grille was unique to the RS, as was the rear diffuser.

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  • So, imagine yourself walking into this warehouse. You have the keys for each car but can only take one, which will it be?

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