Audi RS6 Avant – 2002

Stored Under Performance Audi Wagons, Performance Wagons From History
Audi RS6 Avant 2002

Audi RS6 Avant 2002

Audi followed up its best selling 1999 RS4 with an RS version of its next size up station wagon the A6 Avant. the 2002 RS6 Avant featured a twin turbo 4.2 litre V8 engine giving a massive 444 horsepower, and the turbocharged engine gave a huge spread of power.

The quattro 4 wheel drive and powerful engine enabled the car a supercar quick 0-60 time of just 4.4 seconds, and can hit 170 miles per hour. Audi also offered a “plus” version of the RS6 that had an even more powerful 480 horsepower engine capable of 180 mph that was only offered for sale in Europe – it was only on sale for a year but quickly sold out.

Audi RS6 Avant 2002 rear

Audi RS6 Avant 2002 rear

 

Audi RS4 Avant – 1999

Stored Under Performance Audi Wagons, Performance Wagons From History
Audi RS4 Avant Front

Audi RS4 Avant Front

Audi launched the successor to the cult RS2 Avant model in 1999 and produced another winner. It featured the famous Audi Quattro 4 wheel drive system and a 2.7 litre turbocharged engine tuned by UK race engineers Cosworth Racing, and developed 380 horsepower, with a 0-60 time of only 4.7 seconds.

It was only available at launch in the Wagon body style, and was not available in the U.S. and mainly sold in Europe. Like all RS models it was only offered for a limited period, from 1999 – 2001.

Audi RS4 Avant Rear

Audi RS4 Avant Rear

 

Audi RS2 Avant

Stored Under Performance Audi Wagons, Performance Wagons From History
Audi RS2 Avant

Audi RS2 Avant

The RS2 Avant was released back in 1994, and was built in conjunction with Porsche. It was based on the Audi 80 Avant, and used the firms turbocharged in line 5 cylinder engine tuned by Porsche. It was the first RS model and one of the first performance wagons ever built and it was incredibly popular winning rave reviews.

The Audi RS2 was never officially sold outside Europe, but plenty of personal exports made it stateside, and it has turned into something of a cult classic. It also established Audi’s reputation as a producer of practical high performance cars, used the Quattro system that Audi had been so successful with in World Rallying and was the grand daddy of the RS4 and RS6 Avants.

 

Volvo 850 T5 Wagon

Stored Under Other Performance Wagons, Performance Wagons From History
Volvo 850 T5

Volvo 850 T5

Volvo was one of the first to create the idea of a high performance station wagon. In 1994 it introduced a 2.5 litre turbo engine as a way of producing a halo model that would lift the rather boring image Volvo had been saddled with, so it slotted this 223 horsepower engine into its 850 model, giving a 0-60 time of 7.7 seconds and a top speed of 149 mph.

At the same time introduced a range of bright colour schemes for it such as the banana yellow seen here and bright red, along with an aggressive (for the time) body kit and big alloy wheels. It even entered the car into the British touring car championship in a joint venture with Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR), which really helped raise awareness and brand image.

 

Subaru Impreza Wagon

Stored Under Other Performance Wagons, Performance Wagons From History
Subaru Impreza Sports Wagon front

Subaru Impreza Sports Wagon front

Another Mad Japanese turbo special, the Subaru Impreza was offered for several years in a wagon variant alongside the traditional sedan. The car had the standard 2.0 turbo boxer flat-four cylinder engine developing a restricted 276 horsepower, but could easily be boosted to more. It also had all the clever electronics that the sedan had, with active 4 wheel drive, and a 0-60 time of under 5 seconds, along with fantastic wet weather performance.

Subaru Impreza Sports Wagon rear

Subaru Impreza Sports Wagon rear

 

Mitsubishi Lancer Evo Wagon

Stored Under Other Performance Wagons, Performance Wagons From History
Mitsubishi Evo Wagon

Mitsubishi Evo Wagon

Mitsubishi dont usually get too involved in large capacity high performance cars, but decided in 2006 to go a little crazy and offer their fantastic Lancer Evo IX in the form of a station wagon.

It was a full blown Evo model in every detail – Same turbocharged engine developing supposedly 276 horsepower from a 2.0 turbo engine, but realistically it is reported to be putting out more like 315 horsepower, and giving a 0-60 time of just 4.8 seconds.

It also carried over Mitsubishi’s clever active centre differential, and the massively powerful Brembo brakes. The manufacturer only offered 2500 of these beauties for sale, and decided not to produce a Wagon version of its successor, the Evo X.

Mitsubishi Evo Wagon Rear

Mitsubishi Evo Wagon Rear

 

Ferrari 456 GT “Venice”

Stored Under Performance Custom Wagons, Performance Wagons From History
Ferrari 456 GT Venice

Ferrari 456 GT Venice

Pininfarina was commissioned to make a series of official Ferrari approved conversions for the 456 GT model for the Prince Jefri Bolkiah and his family. The collection included convertibles and 4 door saloons but most famous was the station wagon version. The car was lengthened by 200mm and has strengthened rear suspension, but was otherwise very similar to the original 456 meaning it kept the car’s storming 5.5 litre V12 engine producing 436 horsepower.

Ferrari 456 GT Venice

Ferrari 456 Venice 2

 
Go To Top »