When Audi wanted to revamp its legendary Coupe, it looked at the awesome Audi Quattro racecar and created the S2 – the first ever S-badged car.
Around the start of the 1990s, Audi was looking to assert its sporting nature as it prepared for a head-on clash with German luxury rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz. So it turned to its in-house tuning division, Quattro GmbH (now Audi Sport GmbH), and created the first of its S Series cars – the S2.
The company also wanted to boost lagging sales of its Coupe and replace its still revered but aging Audi Quattro (introduced about 10 years earlier). The Quattro permanent four-wheel drive car was an almost instant success on the world rally stage.
It dominated the circuit through the early-’80s with its Quattro A1 and A2 and the Sport Quattro S1 and S1 E2. It was the intrigue of the S designation that led Audi to develop a sports version of Audi’s Coupe in September 1990. And the S2 was born.
Audi S2 Owes Its Existence To The Quattro And 80 Coupe
The idea of a high-performance coupe originated in 1977 from Audi. The Quattro was introduced to Europe in 1980. It shared the platform and many parts with the B2 Audi 80 Coupe. It was the first-ever application of a four-wheel drive car powered by a front-mounted turbocharged engine, with 200 hp delivered by longitudinal 2.1-liter 5-cylinder.
When it came time to create the S2, Audi again went with the Audi 80 Coupe (now B4) platform and look. Power was again supplied by a turbocharged 5-cylinder engine, now displacing 2.2 liters with four valves per cylinder, and power was pegged at 220 hp. But that rose to 230 hp in 1993 with minor tweaks, the most prominent of which was distributor-less ignition. Of note, though, was the low-end torque of 228 lb-ft, which rose to 258 lb-ft in the 1993 re-tweaking, and offered up short over-boost bursts of up to 280 lb-ft. A standard five-speed manual transmission was changed to a six-speed manual in 1993.
As expected from all the mechanicals, the S2 was not lightweight, tipping the scales at 3,362 lbs. However, improved aerodynamics from a smoother body shell (amounting to a 0.32 coefficient of drag) enabled it to clock 0-60 mph in about 5.5 seconds and climb to a top speed of 150 mph (155 with the 1993 version, though it had a fractionally slower 0-60 time).
Audi S2 Design Was Derived From The Quattro Hatch
In terms of performance potential, the Audi S2 had big shoes to fill, and the S-designation elevated that promise perhaps beyond expectations. Most shoppers remembered the dominance of the Quattro rally car, in particular, the S1 versions … so they viewed the S2 as the “new and improved” model. And it was, but not in the areas they expected.
The new B3 platform and chassis were more refined, granting the noticeable improvements in ride quality that luxury customers expect. On the other hand, aficionados of the rally car expected a louder, harsher experience as proof of performance improvements.
And the criticism over the lack of feedback from the then-new Servotronic steering (which adjusted the weight of the steering according to vehicle speed) further compounded the disappointment of enthusiasts.
And then there were the body panels, which have aged remarkably well over the past 30 years, but which were deemed too “soft” for a performance coupe with a sporting background, especially one anointed the spiritual successor to the Quattro.
The interior was the typically all-leather appointment of a luxury car at the time. It got high-backed seats topped by Audi’s signature see-through head restraints. It was equipped with full instrumentation, including oil pressure, oil temperature, and voltage gauges in front of the manual shifter, all faced in white that switched to Audi’s red-on-black presentation at night.
Audi S2 Paved The Road For The Legendary RS2
The S2 was deemed by many to have received unfair criticism over its sporting flair. Considering it was a road-going sports car with a dash of luxury (maybe bordering on GT, given its four full seats), there was still a desire to make a “sportier” version.
This led Audi to partner up with another Volkswagen property, Porsche, to create the first-ever RS car – the RS2 Avant. The good part was the improvements in vehicle dynamics and performance.
This was thanks to Porsche’s input for the suspension and brakes and tweaks to the engine. The interior was also much improved for the driver with sporting aspirations, with Recaro racing-style seats and carbon-fiber trim.
How Much Does A Rare Used Audi S2 Cost Today?
The Audi S2 has aged well in looks and presentation. It’s a year-round daily driver that, with proper upkeep, is expected to remain pristine for plenty more years of enjoyment.
Body panels retain their gaps extremely well, and the body reportedly remains free of knocks and rattles, though the rear hatch latch is reported to be a source of some squeakiness.
The interior retains its looks, and the materials reportedly weather the years well. The only caveat is leather that suffers from aging creases and may even wear through on some of the more-oft used surfaces.
There were just under 7,400 made between 1991 and 1995, starting at between $39,500 and $44,000 depending on the market and levels of equipment. Today, Audi S2s fetch between $13,000 and $27,000, depending on condition.
The problem, as with many other solid underrated performers, is that very few owners are prepared to part with an S2. As is evident from data from Classic.com that just five were sold over the past five years.
