It's not often an Audi concept makes everyone sit up and take notice. But here is a lightweight
TT
with that wonderful five-cylinder turbo engine, a manual gearbox, some very clever turbocharging and sodding great wing. You're intrigued, right? We were. And before the conspiracy theorists weigh in, no, PH isn't receiving a cash bung for this story either. We just thought it looked pretty cool.
RS5 TDI tech makes it to petrol
OK, so a 600hp TT capable of 62mph in 3.6 seconds won't be on the price lists in the immediate future. But like the
RS5 TDI
with which it shares Audi's electric compressor tech, the TT Clubsport points to an exciting future for RS Audis beyond even the
420hp TT Quattro Sport
This is the first time Audi has incorporated the technology into a petrol car. The 'e-booster' (basically a standalone electrically driven compressor) reaches peak revs "without any perceptible delay" at lower revs, allowing the regular exhaust driven turbo to be optimised for higher boost pressures higher in the rev range. It can also maintain charge pressure when the exhaust gas can't provide for the turbo.
Audi says in the lower engine speed range the compressor boosts torque by 147.5lb ft, enabling that incredible 0-62mph time as well as covering 16 metres in the first 2.5 seconds. An electrical sub-system supplies the compressor, with the energy stored in a lithium-ion battery replenished when the car is coasting.
600hp and 479lb ft puts it a little ahead of this!
Ulrich Hackenberg has said of the electric biturbo tech that "we are close to production readiness" with the diesel models. So, presumably, the petrol equivalents aren't far behind.
The rest of the Clubsport concept is suggestive of a model beyond the RS, something comparable to a Cayman GT4 perhaps. There are carbon ceramic brakes, a manually adjustable rear wing, a titanium cage, bucket seats, adjustable coilovers and those arch extensions. Unladen kerbweight is quoted as 1,396kg.
There are currently no plans beyond this week's Worthersee show for the TT Clubsport, but it would appear Audi is determined for the electric turbo technology to feature in production models soon. If it means more models with that 2.5-litre turbo then we're all for them!