Wanderlust

Tag: RS2

  • Color Check: Nogaro Blue vs. RS Blue at 2014 Geneva Motor Show

    Color Check: Nogaro Blue vs. RS Blue at 2014 Geneva Motor Show

    Given we recently highlighted the transformation of the Audi RS2’s iconic RS Blue (rsblau; pearl effect UNI; M8; Audi) to Nogaro Blue (nogaroblau; pearl effect UNI; Z5M; Audi) as Audi moved on from Porsche production of the RS2, we remembered a certain layout of the Audi stand at the Geneve Motor Show and wanted to revisit the visual comparison.

    Back in 2014, new car motor shows were in their heyday, and Geneva may very well have been queen of them all. Sure, the Frankfurt IAA with its many show halls may have been bigger, but Geneva was where car manufacturers, carrozzeria and even the aftermarket focused on design and performance for the super rich. Audi Sport (then quattro GmbH) always brought their latest sporting models and often built in Audi exclusive one-off specification. For 2014, timed with the launch of the RS 4 Nogaro selection edition, the brand from Ingolstadt brought several blue examples including a vintage Audi RS2 on loan from Audi Tradition.

    As we now know, that vintage RS2 Avant was painted RS Blue, while the Audi exclusive RS 4 Avant and RS 5 Coupe seen in these photos is painted Nogaro Blue. Since Audi didn’t reformulate the colors, they are visually identical. That’s not the easiest to see under the super intense show lights of the Geneva Motor Show and while parked on polished white floors of the Audi stand, but it’s still the case.

    Interestingly, though the RS 4 Nogaro selection edition press release dropped at Geneva, the car on the stand doesn’t match the specification of the limited series production car. Though that car long predates this site, we’ve gone ahead and retro published the original press release on the Nogaro selection edition along with detailed official shots found in Audi France’s archives. Those period PR photos clearly show the special edition had two-tone black and blue Alcantara seats, plus details like nomenclature on the shift knob and badging at the rear. They also had silver optic wheels, while the car on the Audi stand that year has gloss black and machined finish on the same wheel design.

    So what was this RS 4 at Geneva? As mentioned, Audi regularly built tailored Audi exclusive specifications for its booth show cars in those years. Especially on press days when these photos were shot, star cars and RS models frequently had specifications not from the standard order book. The RS 4 Avant shown here was likely an effective one-off by Audi exclusive, but not an actual Nogaro selection edition. The matching Nogaro Blue RS 5 Coupé is more obviously a single Audi exclusive build, with tan seats and grey stitching.

    Neither Audi of America nor Audi Canada never sold the RS 4 in North America, much less the RS 4 Nogaro selection edition. However, Audi of America product managers did dip into some of the components (namely the blue Alcantara seats) to create a special Nogaro edition S4 that is highly prized by owners who still have them.

  • Color Chart: 1994 Audi RS2

    Color Chart: 1994 Audi RS2

    The Audi RS2 Avant remains the stuff of fantasy thanks to its limited production by Porsche and its form as an Audi station wagon. Paired with quattro all-wheel drive, the car reached legend status as tuned versions outran supercars like the Ferrari F40 in period.

    We’ve gotten our hands on the 1994 product catalogue via AutoCatalogArchive.com and so are able to index each of the standard colors for that year. Some Audi specially painted models are known to exist in this time when Audi exclusive was a very rare thing. Most of those deviating cars appear to be using the Audi Lifestyle Colors, though we’ve always wondered if Porsche had built any Paint to Sample versions in their own hues.

    As we run across either, we’ll highlight them here on this blog, but here are the standard colors for now. Worth noting, the scan of this catalogue is not terribly true-to-color, so we’re using this more as a reference of what colors were offered as standard and not what those colors look like on the actual cars.

  • Color Focus: Audi RS Blue – M8

    Color Focus: Audi RS Blue – M8

    CODE: LY7F

    TYPE: Pearl Effect

    CONTENT ARCHIVE: RS Blue

    SUMMARY:
    In the world of OEM paint colors, we sometimes see name changes without reformulation. One example is Audi’s RS Blue (rsblau; pearl effect UNI; M8; Audi) that is perhaps the most iconic (and likely most popular) color of the Audi RS2 stock color offerings. By the time the color returned on Audi’s B5 S4, it had undergone a name change to Nogaro Blue (nogaroblau; pearl effect UNI; Z5M; Audi), but the color itself remained the same.

    Given the lineage, tracing its roots to the wagon project conceived between Audi and Porsche and built in Stuttgart by Porsche themselves, Nogaro Blue has become an icon in and of itself, highly sought after in Audi exclusive builds or the rare times when Audi offers it on the occasional limited production special edition.

    Few, other than RS2 aficionados, know it as RS Blue though. And whatever the name, the color can likely point towards the pre-war national racing color of French Blue for its inspiration. Rumor has it that Audi designers in the Simi Valley design studio sprayed out a marine blue in a request back to the factory for company car specification, which inspired the development of RS Blue.

    Don’t confuse RS Blue (or Nogaro Blue) with Porsche’s Maritime Blue, a then-current Carrera Cup color at the time the RS2 rolled new out of Porsche’s factory. Models wearing Porsche badges such as the 911 Carrera RS (type 964) and 968 were rolling out of that same manufacturer painted Maritime Blue. The timing, Porsche DNA and and their similar appearance would suggest they might be the same code by another name, but park them next to each other and you’ll see a difference.

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  • Market Find: Rare Ruby Red 1994 Audi RS2 Hits Market in Austria

    Market Find: Rare Ruby Red 1994 Audi RS2 Hits Market in Austria

    At the time of the Audi RS2 Avant built by Porsche for the brand of the four rings, Audi exclusive wasn’t really a fully formed service yet and custom paint, while it occurred, was few and far between. Fortunately, Audi did offer plenty of color options despite the rarity of the Porsche-built Avant, and Ruby Red (rubinrot; pearl effect; X6; Audi) was one of those colors.

    Most enthusiasts, even in North America where the car was never sold from new, are familiar with the RS2 and likely have seen it in more common colors like RS Blue Pearl Effect (M8, now Nogaro Blue), Laser Red (H1), Polar Silver (D1), Ragusa Metallic green (Y7).

    Eleven paint colors were offered in all, and it’s probably surprising that Ruby Red (a.k.a. Rubinrot) wasn’t more popular. It’s not far from Porsche’s Arena Red, another dark metallic red from the 964 and 993 era made famous in the iconic “Kills Bugs Fast” print advertisement.

    Despite the Porsche association and the popularity of Arena Red, not many RS2s were ordered in Ruby Red. So, when one ops up on the internet in what looks like a private party sale (seen here on Autoscout.de) we think it’s worth calling out.

    Notably, this car has reportedly logged 119,000 km (73,943) miles, which appears to be well below the mileage we typically see on RS2 Avants. It also appears to be largely stock, another rare occurrence in the used RS2 market. For collectors, this one would be notable in any color due to these factors.

    Notably, it does appear to show some wear on the driver’s seat grey Alcantara surface. The listing (translated in full below) also indicates a respray by the car’s original owner in Germany. All-in-all though, that’s not much… so long as the notoriously low resolution photos typical on European mass car sale sites like Autoscout are accurate.

    The full listing with translation by Apple can be seen below:

    In the rare original color ruby red
    *Repainting would be done at the previous owner in De
    *Grey/Wise Alcantara Equipment.( In this color / equipment combination there should only be 4 pieces)
    *with Austrian individual approval year 2020, DE first delivery
    *Engine, chassis, brakes ……. Series, no tuning!

    Selling for time reasons because I also ride a motorcycle!
    It’s too bad that it usually just stands, in the last 4 years I haven’t driven 1000 kilometers with it!
    Only recently (2024) a large service would be carried out such as B. timing belt change, engine oil + filter etc…. with invoice.

    First contact only possible by mail and if you are seriously interested you can leave me your phone number! I will then contact you personally by phone or Whatsapp.
    After contacting us, even more photos and a tour video can be sent via WhatsApp.
    Will only be given to real lovers / connoisseurs or collectors who know their way around and appreciate a vehicle!

    Preferred sale in Germany, vehicle should remain in Austria if possible.
    Always remember, the vehicle is already 30 years old (oldtimer) and of course has normal signs of use.

    Please only contact us if you are seriously interested and have a suitable financial background.
    Possible exchange as a down payment if it is an everyday car such as an Audi A1/S1 or A3, from year of construction 2013 with a maximum of 150.tkm (each 2.0 liter engine: from 150hp diesel or from 190hp petrol)
    If you are seriously interested, simply make an offer and if it is reasonable, I will contact you at short notice.
    Mfg Markus