Performance thoroughbred

One of the great automotive designs of the modern age and one of the most celebrated powerplants come together in the giant-killing Audi TT RS Coupé – a car that is truly worthy to be called an automotive icon. The TT RS Coupé  is the distillation of all of the things for which Audi is famous – design, engineering, performance and craftsmanship. It takes the iconic design that captured world attention in 1995 and reinterprets it for today, both externally and inside the cockpit. It is unashamedly performance oriented, from the aggressive front end with mesh Singleframe grille flanked by distinctive Matrix LED headlights. Then there are the massive air intakes feeding the 2.5-litre, five-cylinder engine which is itself a masterpiece of design and engineering. The strong, purposeful stance remains, as does the wheel arch treatment and, short, sculpted rear end that can be optioned with Matrix OLED taillights. Its promise of sporting prowess is accentuated by the rear deck spoiler, with design touches like the racing fuel filler paying homage to the original TT design.

Inside too, the original design cues are evident but again with a contemporary spin. The circular air vents, reminiscent of jet engines remain a design highlight and the way the cockpit wraps around the driver bringing all functions and controls within easy reach enhances the whole driving experience. 

This is a pure sportscar although not at the expense of occupant comfort. It features a 12.3-inch Audi virtual cockpit, which includes special RS functions – tachometer, coloured shift lights, as well as g-force and lap timing measurements – all of which has been seamlessly integrated into the TT RS cockpit. There is of course smartphone integration, via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, as well as Audi phone box light wireless smartphone charging. MMI touch and natural language voice control allows easy command of the MMI navigation plus system and should you ever tire of the sonorous engine note, the 680W, 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound is the perfect audio accompaniment.

Customers can also opt for one of two RS Design packages in either red or blue to further customise the interior.

But from the flat-bottom sports wheel with Alcantara finish and starter button, to the aluminium pedals and leather clad sport seats with the distinctive RS stitching, the TT RS just oozes performance.

And it backs ups that impression and then some with what is one of the most celebrated performance engines of all time. 

The Audi 2.5-litre turbocharged five-cylinder engine was developed in the cauldron of motorsport, powering the all-conquering Sport quattro S1 Group B rally car that dominated world rallying in the 1980s. Since then it been refined and honed to an even sharper edge to become the m multi-award winning engine it is today.

Producing 294kW and 480Nm it delivers supercar performance, seeing off the 0 to 200km/h spirit in a mere 3.7 seconds and producing a sound from its unique firing pattern that is music to performance enthusiasts’ ears. Indeed the distinctive sound is amplified through the standard RS sports exhaust, with active baffles in the rear muffler that can be activated via a dedicated cockpit control.

The TT RS uses a seven-speed dual-clutch S tronic transmission, with power going to all four wheels through the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system which is fully integrated into the Audi drive select dynamic handling system. The TT RS Coupé rides on 20-inch alloys and red eight-piston brake calipers clamp 370mm ventilated rotors up front for superb stopping power.

The balance is superb and with RS sport suspension plus with Audi magnetic ride and progressive steering – to use the hackneyed, but very accurate phrase – it handles like it is on rails.

It goes without saying that the Audi TT RS Coupé features the very latest in safety and driver assistance systems with everything from active lane and side assist, parking sensors with rear view camera and even a tyre pressure monitor.

Pound for pound and indeed dollar for dollar, there are few performance cars that can touch the TT RS. Priced from $134,900* this new model features more than $6500 worth of additional equipment over its predecessor and represents one of the most potent performance packages on the market. That it also boasts that iconic sense of style puts it in another class again and makes it easy to understand why the TT RS is so prized by high-performance enthusiasts. The famed TT design language that captured world attention more than 20 years ago is alive and well – and faster than ever.

(*Manufacturer List Pricing [MLP] – excludes dealer delivery and government statutory charges)