Tuesday 24th February 2009

Official Pics: TT RS

New snaps and more info on Audi's pocket rocket

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New officially released pictures from Audi have revealed the highly anticipated TT RS in all its glory. The model will be shown for the first time in the metal at the Geneva motor show next week.

The PR text accompanying the pictures is enigmatic, with Audi confirming only that the car’s 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine produces ‘well above 300PS’ and delivers ‘explosive acceleration, driving delight and unrivalled sound’. Quote: “A legend is reborn. Powerful five-cylinder engines have a long legacy at Audi and the turbocharged direct-fuel-injection engine in the TT RS is the new torchbearer of this dynamic tradition. It enables the TT RS to perform extraordinary feats. For example it needs nowhere near five seconds to reach 62mph; and 155 is the limited top speed only on paper.”

Fortunately we don’t have to rely on official sources for all our info – there’s been enough leaked already to give us a pretty good handle on what to expect under that lightweight aluminium body.

The five-cylinder motor is a cut-down version of Audi’s stonking V10 with a single turbocharger. Its output is somewhere in the region of 340bhp with 330lb ft of torque. There’s Quattro four-wheel drive – naturally - and a six-speed manual transmission. The uprated chassis will boast a more performance-orientated suspension with revised springs, dampers and anti-roll bars. Audi describes the brakes as ‘stupendous’, so we await details with interest.

Styling-wise, as the pictures show the TT RS comes with an eye-catching fixed rear spoiler and a new front end with air-intakes modelled after the R8.

The tin-top version of the TT RS goes on sale in the UK next week after the Geneva reveal, while the convertible arrives later in the year. Prices will be confirmed imminently but you’ll need around £43k for the coupe according to well-informed sources.

 

[CypherP]

Always liked these and this looks really good. Its just a shame that theyre a little too pricey for my next choice..

[funkyol]

It's a shame it doesn't have RS6 power really, with a couple of turbo chargers and 500+ BHP...

Still looks like a bit of a weapon though and I'm sure once MTM get their grubby mitts on it it'll be awesome!

Edited by funkyol on Tuesday 24th February 12:10

[c0ldpl4ya]

gorgeous, never been a fan of the TT but this RS version looks the dogs

[dkennedyvxt]

I love the wording "Stupendous" and "needs no where near 5 seconds", "explosive acceleration".

Someone popped a couple of enthusiasm pills

[pSynrg]

As ever with Audi an utterly underwhelming and over detailed design. Lets tick all the fancy coupe boxes. Maybe they should match the eyeflash LED's with underfloor neons to complete that riced look'n'feel.
No doubt it'll drive like a soap dish too...

[Martin_ST]

pSynrg said:

As ever with Audi an utterly underwhelming and over detailed design. Lets tick all the fancy coupe boxes. Maybe they should match the eyeflash LED's with underfloor neons to complete that riced look'n'feel.
No doubt it'll drive like a soap dish too...

Driven many soap dishes then?

[G21]

I've always disliked the TT (not enough power, doesnt look rugged enough etc.), but at last they have made one I like the look of. Even though I dont like cars tailored to the masses (which Audi seem to be enticing in), I wouldnt mind one of these even at that price.

[marctwo]

[FWDRacer]

The TT needs some soul. Hopefully the 5-pot heart will give it some.

[Lightningman]

Drop the 4WD system and make it RWD and I can imagine it being quite a lot of fun to drive.

That said, is it just me or does sticking the letters 'RS' on the back of a cabriolet seem wrong?

[Maegus]

Looks great, but like always with Audi, how much more will you spend on added extras from the options list.


Last time I did this with the TT when it was first released in the new shape I got the price upto a stomping £31k plus on optional extras.

[Ollieb7]

Where's the beefier arches? Or does it need more RS power for that??

Nobodies said it yet - Hairdressers RS!

[chuntington101]

Very intrested in what engine they put in this. 5pot and turbo sounds good! (R36 and a turbo might have been better!)

Chris.

[sleep envy]

300 PS and an RS badge?

marketing exercise

[theaxe]

The coupe looks good, the roadster is a bit maxpower... However £43k for a TT!!!

[BBS-LM]

theaxe said:

The coupe looks good, the roadster is a bit maxpower... However £43k for a TT!!!

hahahahah £43K for a TT. Makes the Ford RS look like a bargain?

[SleeperCell]

Audi PR fantasists said:

Audi has a long tradition with powerful 5 cylinder motors...

Do they mean that one 5 cylinder engine design which they developed a bit and used throughout various bodyshells before completely abandoning performance 5 cylinder engines for about 15 years until now when they've realised they could try to once again squeeze a tiny bit more marketing juice from their relatively brief Group B success in the early '80s. All they race lately is some diesel sleds, that win a lot but they are TDiously boring, so they try and hark back to when they had interesting racing cars. How about actually creating an interesting racing car again Audi? Could even enter rallying again, there's not a whole lot of competition at the moment.

[iggletiggle]

BBS-LM said:

theaxe said:

The coupe looks good, the roadster is a bit maxpower... However £43k for a TT!!!

hahahahah £43K for a TT. Makes the Ford RS look like a bargain?

but the frs is fwd!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MarkoTVR]

Audi said:

and 155 is the limited top speed only on paper

How is that 'only on paper'?! Either it is limited, or it isn't......surely? The limiter in the ECU is there....or it isn't?!

I can see how it would work for power, as with certain ricers that were '276 bhp' but when they hit the rollers actually churned out more. They weren't 'limited' to 276 bhp.

Or is it just a coy way of saying "We know you're going to remove the limiter now we've made a TT that might actually perform as it always should have done"?

[Gizmo!]

I've never liked the TT - but this is an altogether more interesting thing. Love the looks of the cabrio.

Interestingly though there's some debate over the engine: PH says fivepot derived from the RS6's V10 (so a straight-five) with a single turbo, Top Gear says a development of the VW VR5 engine with sequential turbos... http://www.topgear.com/uk/car-news/audi-tt-rs-2009...