There’s a facet of the motoring media that’s completely enthralled with Audi’s bonkers TT RS, the most powerful version of their compact two-door all-wheel drive sports coupe. Some, on the other hand, have yet to be convinced about the legitimacy of its place within the four-ring's RS portfolio.
Now, as the car has regenerated for the second time, it packs even more punch from its sonorous 2.5-litre/480Nm 5-cylinder turbocharged engine and a dynamic package they’re confident will do it justice.
In fact, the newer car is has been endowed with nearly 50kW of additional power over its predecessor thanks to a complete reengineering of the powertrain as well as a trick new chassis, active aerodynamics, and more sophisticated all-wheel drive system.
The new TT RS’s aggressively styled and functionally purposeful body is available as a Coupe or Roadster, respectively needing just 3.7-seconds and 3.9-seconds to reach 100km/h from standstill. Obviously, this makes it the most accelerative TT ever made, but more impressively it’s just 0.2-seconds off Audi’s flagship supercar, the V10-powered R8.
The Ingolstadt-based automaker has also included its angriest and most expensive TT with its Matrix OLED headlamps with a 3D cluster design, the first time its been fitted to a production model. Also up front is a unmissable honeycomb grille replace with RS badging and ‘quattro’ insignia which are flanked by large dual air inlets.
‘Large’ would also be the proper definition for the impression that the 5-spoke 19-inch wheels have given the TT RS’s lowered stance allowing them to fill the arches more snugly, more so with the optional 7-spoke 20-inch alloys. It’s fixed rear wing isn’t all that pronounced by comparison but is equally distinctive, mated to a rear end that’s topped off with two large oval tailpipes.
An RS-tuned chassis can be attributed to the car’s more talented drive. Curiously, Audi has made its magnetic dampers an option here but has included a progressive steering system for its electrically-assisted rack, paired with fast shifting seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission that’s also standard-fit - a common theme now with the RS cars under the Volkswagen Group.
Large perforated steel discs handle stopping power as standard, upgradable to a set of lighter and fade-resistant carbon ceramics.
The Roadster carries a weight penalty of 39kg with its soft top and electrically operated folding mechanisms. Audi has endeavoured to keep that at a minimal through use of aluminium and magnesium, leading to a 3kg weight reduction over the previous TT RS Roadster. At the push of a button, the roof can open or close in 10 seconds at speeds of up to 50km/h.
The minimal aesthetic of the standard TT’s dashboard has been kept with most of the functions also accessible through the standard 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster known as Audi Virtual Cockpit. It gains a special ‘RS’ view, however, with a tachometer taking the bulk of the digital real estate, flanked by other performance metrics such as G-force, engine boost, engine oil pressure, torque distribution, etc.
However, the rest of the interior has been given a thorough going over. There’s red contrast stitch work everywhere and the seats are now a lightweight bucket dressed in quilted leather. A premium Bang & Olufsen audio system tops off the racy but premium-feeling cabin.
The new TT RS should be reaching order availability in Europe this month and the international rollout should begin very rapidly following that.
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