Words Andrea Albertazzi / Photos Audi Media

Audi has the incredible merit of being able to produce models that are ultimately capable of outshining its mighty R8. Without taking anything away from the two-seater that shares more than a couple of details with Lamborghini’s exotic cousin, cars like the RS4 and above all the RS6 have rewritten the concept of performance within everyday reach. In fact, try to think of living with the whole family, perhaps with two children, a dog and all the luggage necessary for a trip far from the city. Impossible to think of putting everything in the trunk of a supercar, but on the other hand, the performance of the RS range has nothing to envy to the aforementioned R8. And if we are now getting ready – so it would seem, but don’t say that too loud – to the final electric transition, there is no doubt that the most exciting Audi RSs have a petrol heart and a great desire to ground all the power at disposal thanks to the increasingly advanced Quattro all-wheel drive.

Quality and state-of-the-art technology come at a price and guess what, we are not talking about pennies. That is why this month we have decided to identify four Audi – one for each ring – which despite the years on their shoulders are nevertheless perfectly capable of make the rings spinning thus offering a driving involvement that consecrates them as some of the best Audi ever. Let’s make it clear right away: we have deliberately excluded the most inflated and predictable models, after all even your grandma know that the RS6 Avant is one of the most versatile sports cars you can get your hands on.

Coupe S2 Quattro (1990-1996)

After the enormous success achieved with the legendary S1 Quattro (largely victorious in rallies), Audi decided to expand its lineup with a more refined model which, based on the second series coupe, took the name of Coupe S2. It was a model that appeared completely different, with more rounded shapes and a large rear window that ended with an equally large spoiler. The S2 was some sort of a grand tourer and this could be seen from a more refined and comfortable passenger compartment, while the beating heart remained unchanged, a 2.2-litre turbocharged 5-cylinder engine combined with a 5-speed manual gearbox and Quattro all-wheel drive. Its 220 horsepower allowed it to accelerate from 0 to 100 kph in 6.1 seconds and reach a top speed of 248 per hour. The Coupe S2 still embodies the Audi spirit of the first half of the 90s, acting as a generational bridge between two ways of understanding sports cars, suitable for every kind of commutes. 

TT 3.2 V6 Quattro (2003-2006)

When it made its first road appearance – in 1999 – the TT was uncannily close to the concept car unveiled at the Frankfurt motor show three years earlier. It was impossible to remain indifferent to its image so projected towards the future and the small sports coupe, later also available as a roadster, was to all intents and purposes the car to own. Among the numerous engines, between 2003 and 2006 it was also offered with the generous 3.2-litre VR6 from the VW group, which combined its 250 horsepower with Quattro all-wheel drive and was available with manual or automatic gearbox. Despite the discreet power and a torque of 320 Nm, the TT 3.2 has another great value, namely the sensation of control it offers thanks to a perfect combination of performance and handling. The small-sized car body with very low driving position and the delivery of the naturally aspirated engine are truly a pleasure that is impossible to find in the price list today.

RS6 4B C5 (2002-2004)

Ok, we tried, but excluding the RS6 from any list of the best Audi ever made would have been a punishable offense. There is one however, given that we go back to the first generation, produced between 2002 and 2004 and above all one of the only two available with a sedan body, an option abandoned with the following series which ceased to exist since 2010. The RS6 4B C5 is the first real incarnation of this super sedan on steroids and it does so by borrowing all the experience gained from the Avant sisters, offering a three-volume four-door equipped with a 4.2-litre twin-turbo V8 delivering 450 horsepower and 560 Nm of torque. Impossible to resist the charm of an object perfectly capable of coexisting with the needs of any family that does not intend to give up supercar performance: 4.7 seconds for 0-100 kph and top speed electronically limited at 250 kph. The RS6, obviously with Quattro system, helped to emphasize the myth of the super sedans that characterized this period, completely handing over to the wagon variants a few years later. Sorry ‘bout that.

A1 Quattro (2012-2013)

It is well known that over time we become more mature and market rules often impose more considered choices. Luckily, in 2012, Audi top management decided to give themselves a gift and consequently do it to all enthusiasts. So, almost by chance, they take a quiet A1 and placed the S3 engine in it. To tell the truth, that did not took place like this, given that the birth of the A1 Quattro required the development of over 600 components, but the final result confirms how much it was worth it. Produced in just 333 units, the A1 Quattro is immediately recognizable for a whole series of aesthetic details, such as specific rims, black profiles, rear spoiler and diffuser and the particular black strip running along the tailgate. As mentioned, it is designed to entertain and this task is done well thanks to the 2.0-litre of the S3, which unloads 253 horsepower on both driving axles via a 6-speed manual gearbox. Even in the passenger compartment there is a special atmosphere, maybe thanks to the gear lever of the R8? Winking at the S1 Quattro rally icon, the A1 Quattro takes up its legacy and declines it in an automotive world that is light years away from that of the past, managing to bring into play dynamic skills that we will surely regret when we’ll only have to deal with electrons and their heavy lithium-ion batteries. Damn, I can feel the rings spinning.