Market Find: 2001 Audi RS 4 Avant in Nogaro Blue

What: 2001 Audi RS 4 Avant
Color: Nogaro Blue (nogaroblau; pearl effect UNI; Z5M; Audi)
VIN:  WUAZZZ8DZ1N902000
Mileage: 53,600
Price: Auction
CarFax: N/A
Window Sticker: N/A
Location: Bethel, CT
Listing: Cars & Bids

The B5 Audi RS 4 Avant remains one of the most desirable wagons Audi has ever built. Produced in limited numbers from 1999 to 2001, it was never officially sold in the U.S., making any fully federalized example that reaches American shores a true event for Audi enthusiasts. One such car has just appeared on Cars & Bids, giving collectors a rare opportunity to own an icon that helped define Audi’s performance legacy.

This particular RS 4 Avant shows approximately 53,600 miles and comes finished in Nogaro Blue over a black interior. Nogaro has become synonymous with Audi performance cars of the 1990s and 2000s, a color originally inspired by the marque’s racing success at Circuit Paul Ricard in France. While it was a standard paint option for the RS 4 and not an Audi exclusive selection, its significance and instant recognizability among fans make it one of the most coveted hues of the era.

Under the hood sits Audi’s 2.7-liter twin-turbocharged V6, tuned by Cosworth to produce 375 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque when new. Power is delivered through a 6-speed manual transmission and quattro all-wheel drive, ensuring that this family-friendly wagon delivers performance to match its aggressive styling. Even more than two decades later, the numbers remain impressive, and the character of the boosted V6 continues to define the B5 RS 4 driving experience.

The RS 4 Avant was the first Audi model to wear the RS badge after the legendary RS2, and it established many of the traits that enthusiasts now take for granted: wide arches, blistered fenders, and purposeful stance. With no sedan version ever offered, the Avant body style was part of the car’s identity from the start, cementing Audi’s reputation as the brand willing to build high-performance wagons when few others dared.

This example remains largely original, a major plus for collectors. The auction listing notes that the interior has been kept in excellent condition, with bolstered sport seats, carbon-fiber trim, and period-correct touches intact. Cars like this often end up modified, particularly with power adders, aftermarket suspension, or exhaust systems, but the originality here adds significant long-term value.

This car is a 2001 model year, meaning it almost certainly came in through full NHTSA importation and compliance rather than the more loosely applied 25-year exemption rule. Some 2000 RS 4s have only just started arriving under that pathway, but this newer 2001 example would have required a more rigorous (and costly) import process. For U.S. collectors, that extra effort underscores its rarity and makes it even more desirable. That it has an excellent factory specification is another important bonus.

Beyond the technical and legal credentials, what really makes this car special is how it bridges the gap between past and present. Audi’s modern RS 6 Avant has become the poster child for performance wagons in America, but it owes much to the RS 4 Avant that came before it. Seeing a Nogaro Blue B5 on U.S. soil feels like a full-circle moment for Audi’s long-standing Avant legacy.

For collectors and fans of the brand, this auction represents more than just a chance to buy a rare car. It’s an opportunity to own a piece of Audi history that was never meant to be available here, in a color that has become emblematic of the brand’s golden era. For those who have waited decades to see an RS 4 Avant like this on the market, the wait may finally be over.