Saturday 30th April 2016

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!

[MikeGoodwin]

But will it be engaging to drive? Doubt that. Great daily Im sure.

[daveco]

This is going to be a success. It ticks a helluva lot of boxes.

Half the cylinders and half the price of the R8, for close to the same performance.

[dcartner]

Didn't the old TTRS get quite good handing reviews?

Having just had a test drive weekend of a TTS (yesterday) I was quite impressed, it certainly wasn't lacking in power... So no doubt this will be on another level again.

Does seem a lot for a TT, but realistically, performance/cost seems to be about right?
Shame you have to add ridiculous option packs to make these feel special inside.

[gumsie]

I'd take one over the Porsche. Better looking for a start.

Nothing worse than a four cylinder engine, (except the characterful Subaru offering), especially a diesel one.

[Timfy]

Considering how bland the new TT looks they've certainly made the RS look good.

I doubt it'll be that much "fun" to drive but no doubt it'll be both ridiculously fast and capable.

Edited by Timfy on Monday 25th April 18:19

[Martin_Hx]

Timfy said:

Considering how bland the new TT looks they're certainly made the RS look good.

I doubt it'll be that much "fun" to drive but no doubt it'll be both ridiculously fast and capable.

Definitely all this!

[MrBarry123]

to Audi for sticking with something that's slightly out of the ordinary.

If it was my money, the new Cayman wouldn't get a second glance.

I would however buy a lightly used 981 Cayman GTS.

[LotusOmega375D]

Where's the brown leather cowboy upholstery? Yeehaa!

Sorry doesn't do it for me on looks. Especially the roadster: that's starting to look like a cooking A4 in my (admittedly deteriorating) eyes.

[David87]

Yeah, quite like that. Would also like to hear more about the OLED lamps!

Not sure on the wheels and prefer the black pack of the yellow car, but overall it looks an excellent car for those slightly too poor to afford an R8.

[Bolin27]

Hmm.. Looks nicer than the new R8. Makes you wonder why anyone would go for the more expensive option.

[chrisb92]

Wow. Great looking car. I much prefer the sharper lines of this model of TT. It looks more 'manly' that the MK1 & 2.

I think I'd go for a BMW M2 over this, but it's still an amazing car and will sell very well!

[1Addicted]

If the price translates from Euro's to Pound's, that's a hell of a lot of money, and to be honest it's shooting for the BMW M4 in respect of that and performance. The Audi RS4 will now surely have to be something epic, with at least C63S rivaling amounts of power.

0-60 will always go to Audi vs. rivals though, due to the 4wd but I'd expect it to lack a little mid-range if it's not to embarrass the more expensive models.

[Vitorio]

I cant quite get around the transverse front engine on the TT, fine for a 1.8T unit, but for a TTRS, it just seems a bit meh, not truly befitting a high end sports car, i dont care if it is almost as fast as an R8, deep down it still a FWD hatchback in a trainer suit (yes i know, massive hyperbole)

On that topic, anyone else disappointed at the death of the V8 R8? Maybe Audi should make a V6T based entry level R8

[C.A.R.]

The 'styling' is not for me, but I no longer dismiss these after someone on PH suggested that the older TTRS with a 'Stage 1' is actually snapping at the heels of a Nissan GTR. Immediately shot down by the PH forum the numbers actually did stack up on closer inspection.

Still a bit of a tarts car though?!

[arkenphel]

I hope it will be a good driver's car. The other RS models have at least a good measure of practicality thrown in. My RS4 does all the numbers and is built liek a bank vault, but is not quite the sum of it's parts driving pleasure wise.

[RS Grant]

Sure it'll be quick but I think it's a shame there's no manual gearbox option like there was in the previous TTRS.


Cheers,
Grant

[blade7]

£52k for an RS3 in a frock .

[Pan Pan Pan]

MrBarry123 said:

to Audi for sticking with something that's slightly out of the ordinary.

If it was my money, the new Cayman wouldn't get a second glance.

I would however buy a lightly used 981 Cayman GTS.

The problem is that they are such good cars, `nearly' every one and his dog has got one, (A bit like when the first XR3`s came out, and they became known as ****orus cars)nothing wrong with that, but TT`s of all types are not exactly rare these days.

[JockySteer]

This over the new Boxster/Cayman all day.

However.. I'd take a Cayman GTS or M2 over this.

[Alex_225]

I wouldn't necessarily buy one as the TT doesn't do a lot for me, even if it is bloody quick like that one. That does look pretty smart though, the best TT they've done to date anyway.