Audi has really brought the new TT a country mile from the original, cutesy, Audi TT, beloved by hairdressers the length and breadth of the country. And now the news that all Audi TT fans have been waiting for. The super-hot version of the TT – The Audi TT-RS – is to launch at Geneva in the Spring.
The TT-RS will take Audi back to its roots, with the first 5 cylinder engine in an Audi for a decade. The 5-pot was the engine that brought Audi from the old Auto Union days in to the world of quality cars in the ’80s, and on to the high quality car manufacturer it is today.
Audi TT-RS - Due to launch in Geneva in Spring 2009
The engine in the new TT-RS gets sequential Turbos, meaning a little one to get things going with a big one kicking in once things get going, giving a linear power curve similar to a normally aspirated engine, without any turbo-lag. Throw in permanent four wheel drive as standard and a huge 350bhp, giving 0-60 in less than 5 seconds, and this is as close as you can get to an R8, but at half the price.
Audi has had to fight had to make this car, at least with the RS monicker. That is owned by Porsche (who, by default, are now Audi’s parent company) and they weren’ for letting Audi use the RS in connection with the TT. But Audi has won, which probably says more about Porsches pragmatism in a difficult market than Audis actual clout.
But it does look like this TT will deserve the RS tag.
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