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Audi launched its flagship performance series line, the RS, with the Audi RS2 Avant twenty years ago. To pay tribute to the founding model, Audi will launch a special edition RS4 Avant Nogaro from early 2014. Although previewed through digital media, the car will celebrate its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show, finished in Nogaro blue and carrying exclusive equipment. Like its forefather, the customised Nogaro blue pearl effect paint finish is the most noticeable visual signal of the anniversary model. Originally, the RS2 Avant was optionally finished with an exclusive Nogaro blue hue, recalling the two victories achieved by Frank Biela on the Nogaro circuit in the French Touring Car Championship of 1993. The RS4 Avant Nogaro houses a naturally aspirated 4.2-litre V8 powerplant that delivers 450bhp at 8,250rpm, with a peak torque of 430Nm available between 4,000 and 6,000rpm. The lump propels the RS4 Avant from nought to century in a brisk 4.7 seconds before climbing to a governed speed of 280km/h. It sips 10.7L/100km - for a CO2 equivalent of 249g/km. In the sporty interior, Audi offers two different upholstery versions. In both cases, the side sections are covered with black Valcona leather, Alcantara synthetic fibres for the centre sections and door trim inserts are coloured either black or Nogaro blue. A modern classic: the Audi Avant RS2 from 1994 The Audi RS2 was the first RS model from Audi, and also the brand's first high-performance model to combine everyday usability with a dynamic character. Audi developed the RS2 in cooperation with Porsche, with assembly occurring at Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen. Its appearance alone was indicative of the power it held within. The front bumper featured powerful air inlets, and the grille was painted black. The rump of the RS2 Avant was dominated by a thick horizontal band of light that emphasises the width of the vehicle. The force fed 2.2-litre five-cylinder engine delivered a modest 315bhp and 410Nm of torque and sprinted to the century mark in a respectable 5.4 seconds and reached a top speed of 262km/h. A six-speed manual transmission delivered the power to the quattro drivetrain, which had a manually activated locking differential at the rear axle. Fast forward twenty years later and the Audi RS6 Avant, the most powerful car in its lineup, is armed with 560bhp and a dizzying 700Nm of torque from a 4.0-litre V8. Dubbed the everyday supercar, the RS6 Avant completes the sprint to 100km/h in just 3.9 seconds - 0.7 seconds quicker than a V8 powered Audi R8.

[extract] When Audi stopped offering the B7 platform RS4 in 2008, many thought that they would release a new version shortly after that. But in fact, we have to wait almost four years for the new version and the car you see in these pictures here is the new Audi RS4 and Audi will debut it at next month

It seems that Audi has recently decided that the next generation Audi RS4 will only come in the five door station wagon or Avant form only. The reason given was that Audi RS Avant models (like the B7 RS4 Avant above) have outsold the RS saloon versions throughout the years and that there is now an option for those who want saloon like sport Audis in the form of the S5 Sportback. One other excuse, I mean reason, was that the market is moving away from performance saloons. This third reason I somehow fail to grasp as there is always a market for practical 4 door super saloons. I do not see Mercedes or BMW having this sort of thinking as they still have massively powered 4 door saloons. In fact, BMW seems to have done pretty well with the latest BMW M5 and critics are raving about it (above). Anyway, I somehow believe that this is a marketing ploy or just some silly excuse to save production costs by just using one single platform instead of two. It wasn't too long ago that Audi launched the current C6 Audi RS6 in Avant form only and then a followed a few months later by a saloon form. Earlier Audi launched the B7 Audi RS4 in saloon form followed by the Avant form later. Of course the previous RS4 before the B7 RS4 was a B5 in Avant form only. I say this because the B7 RS4 was launched at the tail end of the B7 A4's production and keeping things to the last minute was meant as a boost in sales figures. The same goes to the RS3