What is it with Audi coming out with cars slightly less powerful that other cars in the same price range?

Stock R8 loses to 997.1 x51 porsche in drag race (Top gear et al)
TTs are up against boxters, z4 //Ms et al.
4.2L S5 gets beat by 335i around a track (costs 15k more) etc. (5th Gear)

I love the TT (especially with the baseball glove stitching). Give it some street cred. Audi! This Uber version RS should have 420 hp or more without a tuner tinkering with it.