Though perhaps not the most glamorous automotive celebration of the year, 30 years of
Audi's Quattro GmbH
was one we didn't want to see pass by. Neither did Audi, which is why it's currently exhibiting a 30th anniversary display at the Audi Forum Neckarsulm.
Looks like a standard TT from here...
Its predominantly the newer RS-badged stuff and the motorsport cars on show, but there's one TT that has rather caught our attention. Yes really, a TT. The Imola Yellow Mk1 you see here was the development car for a proposed TT RS Mk1.
Doesn't look much, does it? But there's far more to this TT than meets the eye. Its engine is the same Cosworth-tuned 2.7-litre twin-turbo V6 from the original B5 RS4, which you'd imagine would make for a rather rapid TT. But engines in the Mk1 TT had to be mounted transversely, whilst the RS4's engines sat longitudinally. Hence the only V6 in the first TT being the 3.2 VR6.
So what you're looking at here isn't a TT at all. It's an RS4 platform and running gear with 170mm taken out ahead of the fuel tank and a TT body dropped on top. Unconventional yes, but a very cool piece of engineering nonetheless.
Certainly not from here though!
Furthermore, the logic behind the project is entirely sensible, rather than being an engineer's flight of fancy. According to quattro's product boss Stephen Reil, the project was started simply because Audi felt a sports car was needed to sit with the RS4 in the product range. No R8 back then, of course.
This TT development car was used for about a year and a half after it was built, recording around 20,000km in that time. Reil claims it was faster than contemporary 911s; how we'd like to find out!
But the first TT RS of course never made production. Rather like the Sport Quattro concept of a few years back, it's another fascinating 4WD coupe concept that didn't see the light of day. The rather labour-intensive construction process will surely have counted against it. The fastest Mk1 TT remains the quietly impressive TT Sport. The Mk2 TT RS, ironically enough with less power than this car, is now available from just over £25K.
AUDI TT RS MK1 PROTOTYPE
Engine: 2,671cc twin-turbo V6
Transmission: Six-speed manual, four-wheel drive
Power (hp): 380@6,100-7,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 324lb ft@2,500-6,000rpm
MPG: 23.5 (EC combined RS4 Avant)
CO2: 288g/km (RS4 Avant)
First registered: Well, it was built in 2001
Recorded mileage: 20,000 km (12,400 miles)
Price new: Not actually sold
Yours for: It's a museum exhibit...