[s-cars] Stuttgart Connection

[Airbil at aol.com]

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from "GT Purely Porsche" magazine UK july '02
Apparently rs2 remains notable in the UK as this article speaks of the rs2
and the mercedes 500e, both former porsche projects.  I'll try to summarize
as I have no where to post a scan and no links:(
0-60 = 4.8 secs.   163 mph top speed.  46,000 british pounds in '95..18,000
in 2002. (e500 = 57,000 pounds in 91, 14,000 today.)
In stark contrast, to the 500e, the rs2 could not have been built by anyone
other than porsche...
a wilder variant of the S2 coupe.  Boost pressure was raised to a heady
20psi.   Ecu reprogrammed to run on 98 octane fuel.  Fire the rs2's 5
cylinder engine to life and you are greeted with the most tremendous bassy
warble as those in line cylinders burst into life.  Time to flex the right
foot and experience this pseudo-porsches much talked about performance.  @
3500 rpm things start ot get interesting; hit 4000, prepare for take off.  On
full boost the rs2 delivers the motoring equivelent of being fired from a
cannon:) BTDT..  100mph in 13.1 seconds and the chase for the horizon wont
level off till it's reached 163 mph.  Not bad for an estate car.
Are the 500e and the rs2 worthy of their porsche connections?  With the audi
there is no question of pedigree.  Designed and built by Stuttgarts finest,
the rs2 was sensational when it was new and still is today, even succeeding
in overshadowing its 21st cenury cousin, the rs4.

Thats pretty much the highlights.  As we finished the big brake install
saturday and tossed the old calipers in the trash, it was amazing how the big
reds made the g60's look like horse and buggy.  Geesh.  So, for just about
the same money (or not much more) as it cost audi to make a urs6 (IME) they
could have made it up to rs2 spec.
Perhaps the porsche deal didnt let them?

I'll bring the magazine for Paul K's urS library hour on saturday as it has
some nice pics of a yellow rs2 etc.
Cheers'
Bill m