The wraps have come off on Audi’s hottest TT yet, with pace to worry unsuspecting supercars, reaching Australia in 2017.
Audi has taken the wraps off their all-new TT RS, the most performance-oriented version of their TT sports car, at the 2016 Beijing Auto Show. Featuring a redeveloped 2.5-litre turbocharged five-cylinder engine churning out 294kW (66kW over its predecessor) and 480Nm - it’s nothing to mess with.
Now, this newest TT RS isn’t a stranger to the eagle-eyed car watcher, with test mules being seen (sometimes entirely undisguised) on and around the Nurburgring Nordschleife, but the car’s Porsche-beating performance figures were hopeful prior to this but not really expected.
That wall of grunt, spread across all four wheels through the rear-biased Audi quattro all-wheel drive system and a seven-speed S-Tronic dual-clutch transmission allows the new TT RS to dispatch the 100km/h run in just 3.7 seconds for the coupe while the roadster manages it in 3.9 seconds.
Should the owner want that top speed limit of 250km/h loosened, Audi will (for a fee) let the TT RS reach its true top speed of 280km/h.
Aside from the RS and 'quattro' badges, the unhinged RS version of the Audi TT is set apart from its more civilised siblings, including the already quite capable TTS, through its larger front air intakes, new grille, fixed rear spoiler, and large dual oval tailpipes.
To make sure that the car is able to cope with its new go, Audi has outfitted it with their RS sports suspension plus adaptive magnetic dampers. While upgraded steel brakes are fitted as standard, a set of carbon ceramic discs are available as an option.
Those discs, whatever the material, will have plenty of surface airflow through the 19-inch (lightweight forged 20-inchers are optional) wheels.
Audi has also furnished the TT RS with some of its newest technology features as well such as the Matrix OLED technology, but this time offered in the rear lamps as an option.
Naturally, the TT RS also includes Audi’s virtual cockpit experience which uses a 12.3-inch high resolution screen in lieu of a traditional analogue instrument cluster. This unorthodox approach allows more versatility of information to be delivered quickly to the driver.
The system is paired with the Audi connect infotainment system, which includes MMI navigation plus and natural voice control. To top it off, the Bang & Olufsen audio system provides an engaging and immersive soundstage.
Pricing for the hottest TT has yet to be announced, although Audi has confirmed it will reach Australian shores in the middle of 2017.
For more on Audi's full range of cars, including prices and specifications, visit our Showroom.
