Audi TT RS gets mid-life facelift for 2019
Five-pot coupe and cabriolet models get tweaks and tech upgrades - but no more power
Audi has treated the TT RS to a mild facelift for 2019 as part of the final updates due for its five-pot coupe and cabriolet models. Having been on sale since 2014, the third-gen TT range is now half of its way through life, meaning the usual raft of design and tech changes are being rolled out - and the top models are the latest to get the tweaks.
The mid-life updates to the TT RS coupe and drop-top include new front bumpers - well, slightly restyled ones - and a more prominent fixed wing to the back; plus some new paint options. Inside, the top TT variant sticks with Audi's Virtual Cockpit tech, but the communication system features Audi's very latest voice control and connectivity software. Oh, and there are new bits of trim to spruce up the cabin, which, we might add, already stands as one of the finest in its class.
No-one will be disappointed to hear that the TT RS' party trick, its inline five motor, remains unchanged. It continues to deliver 400hp at 5,850rpm and 354lb ft at 1,950rpm to all four wheels via Haldex quattro hardware. That means the performance figures remain the same: 62mph comes in 3.7 seconds and top speed is a limited 155mph or, if you request a delimiting, 174mph.
And that's it. UK pricing and sale dates are yet to be confirmed, but we'd guess that a slight increase on the pre-facelift TT RS will leave it starting close to £55k. As before, that puts it in the same ballpark as the Porsche 718 Cayman GTS - a car with less outright power, but considerably more fizz. Nonetheless, as PH learned when we ran a TTRS on the fleet last year, it's likely to remain an immensely capable - and extraordinarily fast - machine.
I wonder if you'll be able to place a factory order this time around. With the first batch, you had to put up with whatever the dealership had spec'd, which usually meant those hideous alloys.
Read some websites that think Audi will bin the TT after next year, due to declining sales (in favour of more SUV's probably.)
If it became an X4 rival - 4 door, SUV, coupe - it wouldn't shock me (but the looks might).
I ran one of these for three months a couple of years ago and as a commuter car it was very impressive.
Engine is epic but as has been said many times before, the steering and chassis didn’t excite.
The corners were to be endured rather than savoured. It was all about booting it as the road straightened to feel the shove and the roar of the 5 pot. Still fun but i was left feeling ‘what if’ the chassis was more communicative.
Hugely capable car though and so, so fast.
Felt invincible in the wet.
Would be an interesting to pick one up in a few years - remove the tacky spoiler, throw on some smaller, less gaudy alloys and give it to a reputable tuner to try and inject some life into the chassis/suspension.
Or just buy a Cayman I suppose...
For a period it was looking the 'concept quattro' coupe was going to get this engine, a 6-speed manual, and vectoring four wheel drive stolen from the RS5. There was even a test mule so equipped in A5 shell.
For a period it was looking the 'concept quattro' coupe was going to get this engine, a 6-speed manual, and vectoring four wheel drive stolen from the RS5. There was even a test mule so equipped in A5 shell.
I ran one of these for three months a couple of years ago and as a commuter car it was very impressive.
Engine is epic but as has been said many times before, the steering and chassis didn’t excite.
The corners were to be endured rather than savoured. It was all about booting it as the road straightened to feel the shove and the roar of the 5 pot. Still fun but i was left feeling ‘what if’ the chassis was more communicative.
Hugely capable car though and so, so fast.
Felt invincible in the wet.
Would be an interesting to pick one up in a few years - remove the tacky spoiler, throw on some smaller, less gaudy alloys and give it to a reputable tuner to try and inject some life into the chassis/suspension.
Or just buy a Cayman I suppose...
I wonder if you'll be able to place a factory order this time around. With the first batch, you had to put up with whatever the dealership had spec'd, which usually meant those hideous alloys.
Audi used to produce some of the best wheels. Now most of their wheels all look pants.
And it's a crying shame neither this TT RS or the RS3 came with an option of a manual gearbox. I'd happily lose 0.3 of a second to 60 (as I don't live at Santa Pod) for a bit of driver involvement.
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