Is there anything better than a fast estate? Big engines, bonkers power figures and enough space to bring a couple of dogs along for the ride? That sounds like heaven to us.

Audi agrees. The German brand has of course produced a high proportion of the cars in this sector that we would consider to be among the greats. But here’s a tough question – given free reign, which would you most like to own?

Handily, Audi has gathered a number of Avants together for its 25th anniversary of RS models. So, imagine yourself walking into this warehouse. You have the keys for each car but can only take one, which will it be?

STORY Greg Potts

The RS2 is genesis. It wasn’t just Audi’s first fast estate, but in 1994 it was their first RS model altogether. After plenty of help from the good folks at Porsche, the 2.2-litre five-cylinder turbo engine produced 315bhp and 410Nm of torque.

With Quattro 4WD and huge amounts of boost, it was also famously quicker than the McLaren F1 in a 0-50km/h sprint.

The RS2’s successor didn’t arrive until 1999. This time there was a twin-turbo V6 under the bonnet that had been fettled by Cosworth, meaning max power was 375bhp – quite a jump from the S4 of the time’s 261bhp.

The C5 RS 6 was the first RS model to be offered in sedanform, but of course it’s the estate that you want. 

Cosworth were again involved when it came to the engine, although this time it was a jackhammer of a twin-turbo 4.2-litre V8 producing 444bhp. At the time, that was enough to win the power war against both the BMW M5 and the Mercedes E 55 AMG.

Audi’s B6 A4 was never given the RS treatment, so it was a relief when the B7 was finally unveiled in 2005.

This time around, turbocharging was ditched in favour of a naturally aspirated 4.2-litre V8 that revved to 8,250rpm and chucked out 414bhp. Incidentally, this was the engine that ended up in the first-generation Audi R8. Now that’s a claim to fame.

(Click HERE to read about the B7 RS 4 and the R8 with a B8 RS 4 Avant!)

Launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2007, the C6 came with the now-famous all-aluminium 5.0-litre V10 that was closely related to the one in the Lamborghini Gallardo.

A faintly ridiculous 572bhp meant many supercars could be embarrassed at the lights.

The most recent Avant from Audi’s 25th anniversary celebrations is this V8-powered B8 RS4, and doesn’t it look resplendent in orange? That honeycomb grille was unique to the RS, as was the rear diffuser.