New Audi TT RS revealed

If a four-cylinder Cayman doesn't take your fancy, the five-cylinder TT now has 400hp...

Now this is jolly good timing from Audi. Just hours after the release of the 718 Cayman to comments like "Porsche have managed to make the Cayman look like a Chinese copy of the 981", full details are released on the new TT RS. They might just make fairly unpleasant reading for Porsche too...

The 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo used in the old car and the current RS3 has been revised; it's now lighter and with reduced friction to boost power to 400hp and torque to 354lb ft. That's 60hp and 22lb ft up on what wasn't a slow car beforehand. Audi claims a ludicrous 3.7 seconds to 62mph for the coupe and 3.9 seconds for the roadster. Top speed is limited to either 155mph or 174mph and the sole gearbox choice is the 7-speed S Tronic dual-clutch.

As is the way with fast Audis, the various dynamics parameters are controlled by Audi drive select, here with four settings (comfort, auto, dynamic and individual). Audi says the latest quattro system in the TT RS delivers "strong grip and immense driving pleasure". 19-inch wheels are standard, with 20s on the options list. Also featuring on what will surely be a long list of possible extras are carbon ceramic front brakes and magnetic ride dampers. As standard, expect the RS to use the adaptive dampers seen in the TT S or a passive RS set up.

Now while Audi would like to focus on the organic LED lights at the rear of the TT RS, we'd much rather look at the overall aesthetic. Because, quite frankly, it looks fantastic. Low and squat with some proper arches too, there's no mistaking this for an S Line diesel. It's probably best that the grille isn't a contrast colour and, yes, the spoiler is fixed, but this is another fast Audi that most definitely looks the part. Let's hope the drive can match it...

Inside, the TT RS carries over much from the standard TT with a few sporting embellishments. There's a new 'RS' display for the virtual cockpit, plus an RS-specific wheel and plentiful carbon fibre.

The TT RS has made its debut at the Beijing motor show, with European sales scheduled for this autumn. There isn't a UK price yet, but for Europe the car will cost 66,400 euros as a coupe and 69,200 as a roadster; at today's exchange rates they're £51,800 and £54,000 respectively. Bring on that 718 twin-test!