Audi TT RS: The R8's little brother
Audi is ennobling its TT model series with an RS version. The ultimate compact sports car with a 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine and 400 hp is available as a coupe (from 85,700 Swiss francs) and a roadster (from 88,900 Swiss francs). Less the premium bonus and currency discount of around ten percent. The TT RS can certainly be called the little brother of the R8 V10 plus super sports car. It [...]
The TT RS can certainly be called the little brother of the R8 V10 plus super sports car. Although it only has 400 instead of 610 hp, its low weight of 1440 kilograms ensures similarly outstanding driving pleasure. For the RS version of the third TT model generation, the 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine has been extensively revised once again. Thanks to the use of aluminum and magnesium, the weight of the engine has been reduced by 26 kilograms. Technical innovations include piston crowns cooled by oil injection and plasma-coated cylinder walls for optimum heat dissipation. As the exhaust gas temperature can thus be increased to 1000 degrees, higher efficiency is achieved. The turbocharger, which is even larger, receives a more favorable flow. The engineers have only adopted the intake manifold cover from the predecessor.
A whopping 480 Nm of torque is available over an extremely wide rev range from 1700 to 5850 rpm. This enables the TT RS to accelerate from a standstill to 100 km/h in just 3.7 seconds. Not all TT RS fans, however, are likely to like the fact that the compact sports car is available exclusively with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. Many loved the excellent 6-speed manual transmission. On the other hand, the driver can look forward to even greater cornering agility in the new edition, thanks to the wheel-selective torque control of the "quattro" all-wheel drive system. Although the TT RS has been slimmed down, rigidity has been increased by 30 percent compared with the previous model. The chassis behaves in a pleasingly neutral manner right up to the limits. Suspension, steering and brakes also offer a perfectly tuned package. On request, the compact sports car can be equipped with ceramic brakes for 6050 Swiss francs. Like the R8, the TT RS is started via a red button on the steering wheel. There is also the driving mode switch and the futuristic "virtual cockpit" with the 12.3-inch high-resolution color display, which includes a shift flash and g-meter.
The TT RS plays in the Champions League of compact coupes and roadsters. The test laps on the 3.3-kilometer race track at Jarama near Madrid convinced us at the latest: Audi is sending a sporty top-class car out on the road.
www.audi.ch
Photos: Factory
