There’s no question the Audi RS 4 Avant (B5) is already a legend in the eyes of enthusiasts. With its wider track and Cosworth-tuned 2.7T all part of just-right-sized Avant body, the base car is already the stuff of legends for fans of Y2K cars. Then there’s the RS 4 Sport, an obscure and rarer beast made even more rare because it wasn’t a fully configured model like say an RS 6 GT.
Launched a the 2000 Essen Motor Show, a fully configured RS 4 Sport in attention-getting Imola yellow showed off virtually every component offered in what was actually a range of add-on parts. While most noticeable for its factory Recaro Pole Position shell seats, the line featured other components like real suede steering wheel and shift knob, RS 4 embroidered floor mats, as well as performance parts like exhaust, lower suspension, drilled brake rotors and performance brake pads.
Unlike the Essen show car, this was a line of parts to be fitted upon completion of manufacture so not all cars got the full line of kit. Audi UK’s heritage fleet has a car that we’ve since learned came in as a standard car then was upgraded after the fact to match the Essen configuration. Another car that likely qualifies as an RS 4 Sport was a Nogaro Blue example also with the seats with rare High Tech fabric configuration rather than the color-matched yellow Alcantara seen in the Essen car and the Audi UK heritage fleet car.
Finding an RS 4 Sport then is a bit of a real life Hot Wheels treasure hunt – extra points if you find one in an as-of-yet-unseen specification or one of the rarer or more sought-after colors. To that end, may we present to you this Goodwood Green example that’s turned up at Andreas Wüest AG, a prestige vintage car dealer in Hallwil, Switzerland.
DIGGING INTO THE SPEC
We’re not finding much in the official listing for VIN# WUAZZZ8DZ1N904364. we know it’s a 2001 and has covered 139,800 km. The ad also confirms what we already know that the car is Goodwood Green an a manual.
Photos reveal more. The car appears to have the lower suspension of a Sport, though the real tell that this is something special is again those Recaro Pole Position shell seats. Like any Audi OEM-spec Pole Position, they’ve got the embossed Recaro logo in the headrest area of the seat that you don’t see on aftermarket examples or examples that have come out of say a Porsche 964.
Here, those Recaros are matched with a dark green Alcantara that we’ve admittedly never seen before in an RS 4. That said, the Imola cars had matching yellow Alcantara sections and we’ve seen Nogaro Blue Audis with matching blue Alcantara, so it is reasonable to suspect this green Alcantara might be original from the factory.
Another interesting detail we’re noticing that would be even more unique is what looks like a matching green Alcantara roof liner. In the images, you can see the same green Alcantara on the A-pillars just like Audi would do on cars with Alcantara roof liners. That said, we’re certain we’ve never seen a headliner in the matching color that deviates from the standard black or tan. That’s not to say Audi exclusive couldn’t have done it, but it’d be even more rare than the seats themselves.
Since the RS 4 Sport catalogue was a line rather than a preconfigured package, it’s also notable that this car has other specific elements that aren’t consistent with the Essen car. The shift knob and steering wheel are in leather as with a standard RS 4. The beltline trim around the cabin is brushed silver aluminum – handsome, but not the typical carbon fiber we’re accustomed to seeing in the RS 4 (B5).
The color-matched mirrors are consistent with black optics cars of that era. This is before carbon fiber was used as an exterior accent and color-matched mirrors followed into the B8 era on RS cars with black trim. That said, the black badges likely aren’t from the factory.
SO HOW MUCH AND HOW CAN I MAKE IT HAPPEN?
We’ll share what we’ve found, and it is admittedly inconsistent. The dealer Andreas Wüest AG lists the car in Swiss Francs at a price of 75’800 CHF. Today, Google says that’s a cost of $90,985.47 USD. Alternatively, we found the car listed on Instagram by @eastfrisia_imports stating the car is 73.000€, which would be less. That post also lists @open.air.imports as another source for acquisition / importation into the USA.
OUR TAKE
We’re guessing, as are some commenters on the Instagram post, the interior on this car has been redone. Audi Tradition would likely be able to settle that question. If it’s factory that would make it well worth a premium over other equivalent RS 4s. If it’s not factory then we’d still advocate for this car to a collector. If it presents in the condition stated then even a re-trimmed interior is likely worth it. Swapping back in whatever is correct, especially if it’s Alcantara, shouldn’t be difficult for those seeking to retain factory originality.
So, is this RS 4 Avant an RS 4 Sport? Because of the nature of the catalogue, it’s a bit unclear. There’s no succinct definition of how many parts make the car an RS 4 Sport. Nevertheless, this car does include some of those parts and, at the very least, the seats. If it does have modifications, and it very likely does, then they are both largely complimentary to the car and relatively easy to restore to factory for the serious collector.
To our eye, this is one of the most attractive RS 4 Avant specifications we’ve yet to see.
PHOTO GALLERY
