Yesterday saw the simultaneous reveals of the Audi TT RS Coupe and the Audi TT RS Roadster that were unveiled in London and Beijing.
This is the fastest TT the German firm have produced to this point, with a top speed of 174 (upon request) this makes the new model around 20 mph slower than its big brother, the R8. Not bad considering that the R8 starts at about £120,000 whereas the TT RS is likely to undercut by some margin - prices are yet to be announced.
So what powers the R8's barnstorming little brother?
Under the bonnet you will find Audi's multi-award winning five-cylinder 2.5 TFSI engine which produces 396 bhp, 46 more than the new Cayman S which will be the TT's main rival. What this power equates to is a 0-62 time of 3.7 seconds (3.9 in the Roadster) and a top speed of a limited 155 mph. You can get the limiter taken off however, which will give you a top speed of a generous 174 mph. Blimey.
The engine may have won 'Engine of the Year' six times in a row but that does not mean Audi are resting on their laurels. The new unit has been further developed with an emphasis to make it more lightweight, which will offer increased power delivery and reduced internal friction. Audi say that the new engine will provide fantastic pulling power and will provide an unmistakeable sound.
To keep this power down on the road Audi will adopt its famous Quattro system which will be coupled with a seven-speed S tronic gearbox. The chassis will also be key in providing a dynamic drive that will match the aggressive looks of the body. The TT RS features targeted springs and dampers modifications and it also sits 10mm lower than the standard TT. Carbon ceramic brakes can be added on as an option to provide better stopping power.
Enter the Matrix
The new TT RS will have a first for Audi, it will be the first series-production car to have Matrix OLED rear lights. The lights will be able to emit high-contrast light that be continuously dimmed, does not cast any shadows and also doesn't require reflectors. Each light features four units which become smaller from the inside out and the biggest one bears the TT logo and Audi's iconic four rings. Nice.
The new TT RS is yet to be confirmed with a price but orders are expected to start this summer with deliveries coming towards the end of the year.