RS4 Conversion Completed with 400HP to the Wheels

An Enthusiast is Never Finished

JJ Larson has owned this 2001 Audi S4 Avant for well over a decade and during that time, it has seen a number of different modifications and iterations that have really set it apart from the rest. Last we've heard, the car no longer even looks like this as it is an ever-changing canvas, but many believe that the way it sits here was the sweet spot in regards to maintaining a sporty, yet classy balance. Let's have a look at what makes Larson's Audi (coined 'RSFaux' by his buddies) such a well-built wagon.

Body Building

For some odd reason, wagons aren't given much love here in the US, so it is no surprise that Audi never brought their hot-rod RS4 wagon into the states. Larson had long dreamed of owning such a car, so when he encountered a 2001 6-speed S4 Avant back in 2005, he snatched it up with the intent of converting it into the ultimate wagon. The first order of business was sourcing all of the OEM RS4 body parts from Germany to get the car into RS spec. Larson commissioned a local body shop to install the new bumpers, wider front fenders, and to mold in the flared rear arches.

Boosting The B5

No RS4 conversion would be complete without the addition of a few extra ponies, but Larson saw fit to pump up his S4's 2.7L V6 engine to the point that it exceeded the output of a real B5 RS4. The stock twin-turbo setup was swapped out in favor of an upgraded Tial 605 system that included all-new plumbing. Additionally, a set of Evolution Racing intercoolers were installed along with an RS4 Y-pipe and 034 Motorsports intake. European Performance Labs (EPL) provided a new MAF, fuel injectors, and tuning that sees the turbos produce 25 psi of boost that results in 400 all-wheel horsepower.

Interior Intricacies

The interior follows suit with rest of the car as it retains many of the Audi sport luxury components, but Larson added an aggressive touch with a set of Prodrive/Recaro sport bucket seats finished in a wildly colorful design. JJ also swapped out the original steering wheel with a Euro-spec flat-bottom wheel from a B7 RS4 that is smaller in diameter with a nice contour finish in perforated leather.  

Ridin on Air

For the longest time, the RSFaux rode on a set of KW Variant 3 coilovers, but such a setup does not allow for any adjustment on the fly. Larson has mixed in several radical sets of wheels on the Avant in the past, with the set shown being 18"x10.5" monoblock Rotiform LHR with a deep concave. He eventually opted for an Air Lift Performance air ride setup to better accommodate the aggressive wheel offsets and has not looked back since. JJ explains that the air ride can handle all of the sport-oriented driving he does while also being fully adjustable at all times to where he can drop it down when parked. Even better is that all of the suspension components are completely tucked away in the interior panels.

A Well-Rounded Ride

JJ's car has been painted in a number of different finishes over the years including white, olive green, and flat black, but this classy burgundy, called Merlot Metallic, was pulled from the Aston Martin paint catalog. Although the car regularly undergoes changes with the wheels and paint, the tenure of Larson's ownership shows an ongoing passion that is alive and well. The car is not parked in a garage and pulled out only for photo shoots. But instead, it is a daily driver that has seen cross-country trips to various car events. When you have style, performance, and comfort, what else can one ask for? 

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