Introduced twenty years ago, the Audi TT changed people’s perceptions of the Audi brand. To celebrate its success FERDI DE VOS sampled the most powerful production version of the TT to date – the RS Coupé.
When the Audi TT, with its clean, unfussy, and unpretentious Bauhaus-inspired styling was first shown as a concept car at the 1995 Frankfurt Motor Show, it met with rapturous applause from the gathered audience.
Yet, it took another three years before the small 2+2 coupé — named after the successful motor racing tradition of NSU in the British Isle of Man TT (Tourist Trophy) motorcycle races — to make it into production. There was method to the madness, though; as Audi introduced a previously untested laser beam welding process in an attempt to keep the seamless design features of the show car for production.
It was worth it, as the arrival of the TT changed perceptions of the brand, and introduced a new design language for future Audis.
Now in its third incarnation, the spiritual successor to the giant-slaying NSU 1000TT, 1200TT and TTS cars of the 1960s has become a stalwart in the Audi line-up – introducing innovative technologies into the marketplace such as a dual-clutch six-speed Direct-Shift Gearbox (DSG). The TT variants destined for Britain became the world’s first with a dual clutch transmission that was configured for a right-hand drive vehicle.
CLEAR RS INTENT
The latest TT RS, introduced locally in November last year, has clear intent: to be the fastest, most powerful compact coupé available. With large air inlets, a single frame grille with a newly designed honeycomb pattern and quattro logo, sporty side sills and two large, oval exhaust tailpipes it exudes concentrated power.
In line with its mandate as technology-leader, the RS uses rear lights with Matrix OLED (organic light emitting diode) technology – available for the first time (as a visually impressive R12,100 option if nothing else) in a series-production Audi – while a fixed rear wing or retractable rear spoiler can be specified.
Our test unit looked stealthy and ominous with its Daytona Grey pearlescent paint job (at R2,700 extra), 7-spoke rotor style rims and 20” tyres (adding another R22,900), Matrix LED headlights and OLED rear lights (R26,300) and glossy red brake callipers. Ka-ching.
Inside, the RS-specific fine leather seat upholstery with diamond pattern and red RS design colour accents on the air vents, seat belts and floor mats (another R12,600, please) exuded an air of exclusivity.The fully digital Audi virtual cockpit display includes a special RS screen that highlights the tachometer (also serving as shift indicator) and other essentials, while the RS steering wheel with shift paddles now has buttons for turning the engine on and off, and the Audi drive select dynamic handling system.
The TT RS offers the best infotainment system in its class, courtesy of its intuitive, easy to use MMI navigation plus an optional B&O sound system worth R9,900. Those token rear seats are not practical, though, and luggage space is just enough for a golf- or overnight bag. (305 litres, which can be increased to 712 litres by folding down the rear seat backs).
SPEED AND SOUND
The fastest RS (excluding the R8) is all about impressive speed accompanied by a fantastic engine soundtrack. Its 2.5-litre TFSI five-cylinder turbo engine gains a 17% increase in performance to deliver 294 kW from 5,850 r/min, with a maximum torque figure of 480 Nm available between 1,700 and 5,850 r/min.This propels it from zero to 100 km/h in just 3.7 seconds – a time none of its rivals, namely the Porsche 718 Cayman GTS, Jaguar F-Type 3.0 V6 Coupé or Mercedes-AMG SLC43, can match. Then there’s the soundtrack, which is arguably one of the most evocative sounds in automotive history.
Acceleration of the Audi TT RS is almost linear, but calm and without fuss, thanks to quattro drive and virtually seamless cog-changes from its seven-speed S-tronic transmission. Top speed is electronically governed to 250 km/h, but the limiter can be taken off to shoot the digital numbers up to 280 km/h.
And, despite this increased performance, the claimed fuel consumption of the coupé is still just over 8-litres/100 km.
The quattro system’s wheel-selective torque control does a great job of keeping the TT to point the TT into corners, but there is a hint of understeer that creeps in when you really start pushing. The progressive steering provides good feedback, and the ventilated and perforated discs (carbon-fibre ceramic discs are available at an additional cost) ensure abundant stopping power.
However, there is a downside. Even with the so-called ‘adaptive magnetic ride,’ the suspension of the RS is integrated into the four-mode (comfort, auto, dynamic and individual) drive select system. While this all sounds good, it is incapable of absorbing impurities in the road surface.Even in comfort mode, the ride is just too hard, and on fast, twisty, but uneven roads it necessitates holding back, as things just get too uncomfortable at too high a speed. For this reason (as well as for better practicality) I, for one, still prefer the RS3 Sportback.
LAST WORD
However, when the surface is smooth, not many cars will hold a candle to the Audi TT RS. In this sense, it is a fitting tribute to the TT’s of yore, and when comparing price versus performance, the RS Coupé (even with nearly R80,000 worth of options) still is a real bargain. That is what makes it so appealing. Other than, that alluring five-cylinder beat of course.
Report by FERDI DE VOS ǀ Images © AUDI