And here we had thought the 265-hp Audi TTS was just fine. Its high-output, turbocharged four-cylinder gives the Porsche Cayman a run for the money, and it is a credible, sporty alternative to the silky 3.2-liter V-6 TT.
But deep within Audi, engineers wouldn't rest. Few of them have understood why the legendary inline-five ever was dropped from the lineup. They wanted a new five-cylinder powerplant. Of course, the TT, based on VW’s flexible PQ35 platform, still had potential. Audi's Quattro GmbH performance division came up with a plan.
At around 3200 pounds (in European configuration), the TT RS is slightly heavier than the TTS. Taking out weight would have meant sacrificing everyday comfort, Audi says. We like the sound of the five-cylinder and could do with less sound dampening, but Audi has done us a favor by providing an "S" button, which not only sharpens throttle response but also opens a valve in the exhaust for a more authoritative sound.
A New Look for an Old Favorite
The TT RS still looks like a TT, of course, but the styling department, under the guidance of Stefan Sielaff, has come up with a few ideas to set you apart from the nice guys. The front air intakes have grown considerably, so much so that Audi had to lose the fog lights. There is an optional, silver bar on the lower end of the front skirt and the rear diffuser—an element that will resurface on the upcoming RS5. And the rear spoiler is now a large, fixed unit. If modesty is your trait, you can still opt for the regular spoiler, which deploys above 75 mph.
The Audi TT RS is available in Europe right now, either as a coupe or a roadster. At €55,800 for the coupe, it costs about €10,000 more than the TTS. The roadster version is a real one, no folding metal roof here. The decision on a U.S. launch will be made within weeks, says Michael Dick. Competitors include the Porsche Boxster and Cayman, the BMW Z4 sDrive35i, and the Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG. We believe it will stack up well against any of them. It's about time Audi created some more history here as well.
