Details of Cars

Audi S2: the first of Audi’s S models

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Audi S2 Coupé
Audi S2 Coupé. Photo by Kieran White from Manchester, England, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

The Audi S2 is the sports version of the Audi 80 and the first car in Audi’s S series. It was made from 1990 to 1995 as a Coupé, an Avant and a small run of saloons, all with a turbocharged five-cylinder engine and quattro four-wheel drive. The S2 Avant later became the basis of the Porsche-built Audi RS2.

Audi S2 at a glance

Audi S2 key facts
Production 1990–1995
Body styles Coupé, Avant, saloon
Base Audi Coupé B3, then Audi 80 B4
Engine 2,226 cc five-cylinder 20V turbo
3B output 220 PS, 309 Nm
ABY output 230 PS, 350 Nm
0–100 km/h 5.7 seconds (3B Coupé)
Top speed 246 km/h
Gearbox five-speed, six-speed from 1992
Coupé production 7,370 cars
Avant and saloon 1,812 Avants, 306 saloons
Total 9,488 cars

History of the Audi S2

Coupé S2 (1990–1995)

Audi S2 Avant
Audi S2 Avant. Photo by Jacob Frey 4A, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

The Coupé S2 was developed with Konrad Schmidt Motorsport GmbH, which also ran Audi’s V8 quattro in the DTM, and went on sale in September 1990 at 72,450 DM. It was based on the Audi Coupé B3 and was meant to lift the image of a model that sold worse than its predecessor. The front was restyled to match the Audi V8, with new headlights and a grille with a body-coloured surround, a look that soon spread to the rest of the range. The engine was the 2.2-litre 20-valve turbo five from the Audi 200 20V: 220 PS and 309 Nm with a five-speed gearbox at first, then from October 1992 the ABY version with 230 PS, 350 Nm and a six-speed. The 3B car reached 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds and 246 km/h.

Avant and saloon (1993–1995)

The S2 Avant arrived in February 1993 with the 230 PS engine and six-speed gearbox from the start, and a four-door saloon followed in July 1993. Both were based on the Audi 80 B4. Production ended in 1995 after 7,370 Coupés, 1,812 Avants and only 306 saloons, 9,488 cars in all; the Coupé was built until December 1995. The B4 platform of the S2 Avant was then used, with Porsche’s help, for the Audi RS2 Avant.

Design and features

  • First S model: the S2 started Audi’s S series, and its name came from the Sport quattro S1/E2 rally car.
  • quattro as standard: permanent four-wheel drive on every version.
  • Five-cylinder turbo: 2.2 litres, 20 valves, 220 or 230 PS.
  • Three body styles: Coupé, Avant and a 306-car saloon run.
  • Equipment: procon-ten, ABS, sports seats and three extra instruments in the console.

Audi S2 versions

  • S2 Coupé 3B: 220 PS, five-speed gearbox.
  • S2 Coupé ABY: 230 PS, six-speed gearbox, from October 1992.
  • S2 Avant: from February 1993, 1,812 cars.
  • S2 saloon: from July 1993, 306 cars.

The S2 is the sports version of the Audi 80, and its Avant led to the Audi RS2 Avant. The rally car that gave the S2 its name is described in our Audi Sport quattro article; more models are in the Audi collection.

Sources

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