Audi TT RS Plus? Or just Europe getting the U.S TT RS for 2012?

Audi TT RS Plus or 2012 TT Facelift?

There are rumours of a more powerful Audi TT RS on the way – the TT RS Plus – but is this just Europe catching up with the power of the U.S. TT RS?

The Interwebs have been full of rumours that we’re about to get a new Audi TT RS – the TT RS Plus. But are they right?

The rumour – and that’s all it is – is that Audi are going to strip out the back seats from the TT RS, add in some carbon fibre to cut weight and tweak the engine to deliver something around 380bhp. Which would, if it were true, perhaps deliver an Audi TT with a sub 4 second 0-60mph. All very appealing.

And it is certainly a possibility (Audi has never been slow at filling even the smallest niche) as a hot halo for the TT range. But what seems more likely is something a little more prosaic, although still appealing.

Currently, the Audi TT RS in the UK and Europe – whether it’s the TT RS Coupe or the TT RS Roadster – comes with 335bhp and a 0-62mph of 4.3 seconds.

On the other side of the Pond, our colonial cousins get a TT RS with a more appealing 355bhp and a 0-60mph of 4.1 seconds. Which is probably because the TT RS in the UK and Europe is now a couple of years old, but the TT RS in the US has only just arrived.

So the most likely scenario is Audi will give the TT – and the TT RS – a nip and a tuck in 2012 and take the opportunity to up the power on the RS to the same levels as the US version.

Of course, it’s possible Audi may chose to do both – a more powerful, limited edition, TT RS Plus and a more powerful regular TT RS that has the same levels of power as the US version.

But if we had to pick, it would be the release of a facelifted TT RS with American levels of horses.