Audi S2 (1990 – 1995) Review
Audi S2 (1990 – 1995) At A Glance
Launched in 1990, the turbocharged four-wheel drive Audi S2 was the replacement for the original quattro. So it had a lot to live up to. It was based on the 1988 Coupe, and powered by the brilliant 2.2-litre 20V five-cylinder engine used in the Audi 200 and run-out quattros. Original power output was 217bhp, which was enough to push the new coupe to almost 150mph - a barrier breached in 1992 with the first facelift, where the S2 received an uprated 230bhp power unit.
The S2 was originally offered in coupe form only, but in 1993, the saloon (limited run with a mere 306 built) and Avant models were added to the range, considerably adding to the S2's appeal and meaning it would go head-to-head with the BMW M3. These later facelifted models may have looked almost identical to the 1990 original, but were extensively re-engineered under the skin. It was this car that also provided the basis for the 1994-'95 Audi Avant RS2.