Track Drive: Audi TT RS
Audi Wants to Bring it. Just One Question: Do You Want One?
April 16, 2010 / By Carlos Lago / Photography by William Walker, Jessica Germiller

Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/


On a clear and sunny Tuesday afternoon in Rosamond, California, Audi has gathered every performance model in its U.S. lineup at the 2.5-mile, "Big" track at Willow Springs Raceway. The highlight, however, is not the white, 518-horsepower R8 V-10. No, today our focus falls on a black TT RS -- currently the only one in America.

Audi wants to bring more -- a whole bunch more. You just have to say you want one. This particular TT RS was imported here as a taste of what could come, and it looks delicious. The RS transformation adds an exaggerated front end with a honeycomb grille, enlarged oval exhaust pipes, and large side skirts. A large, fixed spoiler sits atop the trunk, though it doesn't add any traceable benefit over the standard TT wing (deleting it is a no-cost option in Europe). Sitting atop optional 20-inch wheels (19-inch rollers would be standard in the U.S.) and wearing Phantom Black paint, the TT RS has an intimidating stance. It looks like Darth Vader.

It sounds like Darth Vader too. The engine is a transverse, turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-five -- yes, five -- like the wicked Quattro rally cars from the 1980s. The similarities, though, end with cylinder count. With direct fuel injection -- plus the benefit of two decades' worth of technology - the TT RS mill, which is unique to the model, is deceptively potent. Horsepower peaks at 340, but 331 pound-feet of torque is available from 1600 to 5300 rpm. The wide delivery of such plentiful torque makes for eager acceleration, whatever gear you select with the six-speed manual. Speaking of which, the close-ratio six is the only gearbox choice --Audi's twin-clutch Stronic can't take the engine's gusto.

The power delivery proves impressive around Big Willow, where mostly third and fourth gears come into play. The TT RS's speedo indicates 135 mph on the front straight, proving the track's Fastest Road in the West nickname and the engine's power. Audi puts acceleration to 62 mph at 4.6 seconds, neck and neck with the Cayman S. Coincidence? Not at all.

The Audi team is coy with non-performance-related numbers, but they name their targets explicitly: Porsche Cayman S, Mercedes-Benz SLK AMG, and BMW Z4 M (whenever BMW gets around to making one). Pricing will be "competitive" with the other Germans, meaning the TT RS should cost around $60,000. Volume will be dramatically lower, though. For contrast, the RS4 sold 2400 units in its two-year life cycle -- the A4 does that number plus 1000 in a month.

 

I got to see one in Kuwait, I didnt like it in red. I like this car, its pretty neat and reasonably priced.

 

ill take one

 

I got to see one here in Singapore, It was in Sepang blue, and It's amazing.

 

At $60K, I'd buy it instead of the TT-S I'm planning to buy my wife in the fall... Of course I'd delete the ridiculous wing and stick with the standard pop-up spoiler. Misano Red with titanium package, please.

 

Turbo engine makes it easy to mod, mid 400s should be no problem.

 

Call me crazy but that's way underpowered and overpriced compared to the cars it's competing against, imo.

Looks slick as hell though.

 

340 hp/331 lb-ft tq??? That'll crush a Boxster/Cayman, SLK, Z4, etc. I just hope if it does come they offer a DSG transmission otherwise it's a deal-killer for my wife.

 

I guess I'm a bit off base about how much power the competition has. I thought the Boxster/Cayman were all right around 330-350 hp. Wouldn't the SLK55 pricetag fall right in line with the TT-RS's though? If they do make a new Z4M, I'm sure it'll have much closer to 400 hp like the M3.

I'm sure it'll be fast, I was just hoping for more power from an RS. 385 hp right out of the box sounds about right to me.

 

Cayman S makes 320...

Honestly, I'd rather buy her a Cayman S PDK, but we get snow here, so quattro is a must in the new car.