AUDI TT RS
You may remember how surprised we were by the efficiency of the Audi TT S when it first came out. At the time, the TT RS was still in development but there were already murmurings about what was coming next. And we were told that there was more to come.
In the Audi lexicon there was the TT model. Then would come a sport version, the S and in the best scenario would come the top end RS version.
And today there is now the TT RS roadster version.
It is hard to go unnoticed when behind the wheel. The TT RS is sculpted like a body builder. The front bodywork is oversized that nearly scrapes the tarmac. The air intakes have been widened to help better cool the engine.
From the side, you can see the enlarged under body and 19-inch wheels. Adding to the racy feel is the large rear wing.
In this version, the TT loses its elegance. Individually, each element of the RS is top drawer but the package is just a bit ostentatious.
The roadster weighs 1510 kilograms, a full 60 more than the coupe, but it has a lower centre of gravity. Thanks the use of massive amounts of aluminium, the RS shell weighs an incredibly feather like 206 kgms.
For those preferring discretion, Audi will replace the fixed wing with a spoiler that deploys at 120km/h and goes back down at 80.
The interior is very classic with a straight section on the lower portion of the steering wheel, much like what is found in a race car or the Audi RS. The choice of materials, style and ergonomics are typical first rate Audi quality.
The S button allows for accentuating engine noise, while there is another function that will expel exhaust gases on the right side and not divert them towards a silencer, which guarantees sensation because under the bonnet, Audi has gone away from tradition and opted for a 2.-litre in line 5 cylinder turbo engine. It is the same architecture that powered the monstrous QuattroS1 rally car.
The production based model is a lot less demonstrative but with the new technologies like direct injection, it still cranks out around 340 brake horsepower and is very economical for this level of performance. In normal driving conditions it consumes less than 10 litres of petrol every 100kms.
There is nice torque with a slight response lag that was so common in the early days of the turbo, but the engine is excellent with an engine noise that can’t be imitated. The stiffness of the shocks requires prudence over the bumps at first but that all goes away once you get on with it. The TT RS does an outstanding job in keeping everything on an even keel.
Perfect balance? Nearly, the only drawback concerns the long travel distance of the clutch pedal, which doesn’t allow one to fully enjoy the unction of the motor. Audi says it can be adjusted at a dealer shop and we will surely ask to re-test the car to be sure.
International
