AIMS: Audi TT RS, now with S Tronic

Audi has announced a new limited edition variant of the TT RS, the company's own fabulous five. And the TT RS Limited Edition, as it's called, will make its debut at the Australian International Motor Show this Friday in Melbourne.

Restricted to 45 units for the local market, the exclusive TT model incorporates $8460 worth of added features, according to Audi, but costs no more than the standard car.

Among the extra features is the S Tronic transmission, which has not been made available previously in the TT RS. The limited edition model breaks with that tradition, boasting seven forward speeds from its dual-clutch transmission, which works on the same principles as parent company Volkswagen's DSG system.

In the TT RS, the S Tronic box is coupled to the car's 2.5-litre TFSI five-cylinder, a turbocharged, direct-injected engine that develops 250kW of power and 450Nm of torque. Peak torque is available through much of the rev range — from 1600 to 5300rpm — and power achieves the maximum rating between 5400 and 6500rpm. With a new launch control function, the car in this configuration can reach 100km/h from a standing start in 4.3 seconds. Audi claims that the S Tronic variant accelerates faster than the manual. Fuel consumption in combined-cycle testing is 8.5L/100km and the car emits 197g/km.

In addition to the S Tronic transmission, the TT RS Limited Edition comes with black exterior styling package, metallic paint, five-spoke 19-inch alloy wheels in titanium finish, sports exhaust system, adaptive headlights, BOSE audio system, extended leather upholstery and LED interior lighting.

Both the Limited Edition TT RS and the newly-released standard model with the option of S Tronic transmission are priced the same as the manual car; $139,900 before on-road costs and pre-delivery.

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