Audi TT RS 2009 Review - International

Audi TT RS

Not so much
>> Poor ride comfort at low speeds
>> DSG gearbox is not available
>> Ain't going to be cheap

Overall rating: 4.0/5.0
Engines and Drivetrain: 4.5/5.0
Price, Packaging and Practicality: 3.0/5.0
Safety: 4.5/5.0
Behind the wheel: 4.5/5.0
X-factor: 4.0/5.0

About our ratings

Audi has been trying to establish the Audi TT's sporting credentials ever since the original concept car was unveiled at the Frankfurt motor show in 1995. It was a stunning design that has influenced countless other cars since, but the model itself didn't quite cut it when put through its paces and compared with the thoroughbred German sportscars.

And so with each new model Audi has been making the TT more athletic and more nimble.

The second generation TT released in 2006 was a revelation. Whereas the original Audi TT was shared much of its underpinnings with a Volkswagen Golf hatchback, the latest TT has its own exclusive design from the ground up.

Extensive use of lightweight and high-strength aluminium gave engineers a strong framework to start with – and they've been building on it ever since. A bit like yoga, if you have a strong core the rest of the body takes care of itself.

The latest TT was originally available with a choice of two drivetrains – a 2.0-litre turbocharged front-drive variant and a 3.2-litre V6 all-wheel-drive variant – before adding a 2.0-litre turbo diesel and a 1.8 turbo petrol into the mix. And last year, Audi put some icing on the TT cake by releasing the TT-S, which has a high-output version of the 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine matched to the quattro all-wheel-drive system.

At the time we thought you couldn't get much better. But now something better has arrived: the TT RS.

Audi saves the RS badge for the most prized, most powerful and most potent of its models in the range. As with all good RS models, the TT RS gets a tougher appearance and some other go-fast goodies. In this case it's a new front apron with massive air intakes, a large fixed rear wing for high-speed stability, and race-style seats.

But the real transformation starts with the heart transplant. Audi has built an all-new engine for this car: a 2.5-litre turbocharged five-cylinder.

Unlike the V5 used by Volkswagen in certain Bora models, the TT RS engine is an in-line five-cylinder layout (a la Volvo and Ford). Audi says is its engine is more compact and can be positioned further back in the engine bay to help the car's overall weight balance.

It sounds absolutely awesome. The growl is reminiscent of Audi rally cars of the 1980s. Best of all, there's a button on the console that makes it sound even more glorious. The TT RS has a two-stage muffler which allows the driver to choose just how raw they want the roar to sound.

It's a deep rumble that turns into a crisp, powerful scream as the revs rise. The only downside is that at certain revs at suburban speeds the exhaust can drone – even when it's in quiet mode.

But all is forgiven when you squeeze the throttle. There is the slightest hint of delay in power delivery at about 2000rpm, but from there hang on for the ride.

As the engine's impressive power and torque numbers indicate, the power delivery is consistent across the rev range. It accelerates with the same gusto at 3000rpm as it does at 6000rpm. It's like a dog on a leash that simply doesn't get tired.

It's a thrilling experience. Audi claims the TT RS will complete the 0 to 100km/h dash in just 4.6 seconds.

The only slight disappointment is that you must briefly interrupt this forward thrust to change gears. The TT RS is only available with a conventional six-speed manual transmission. Audi says that is because it wants to the make the RS a purist sports car. But every other model in Audi's line-up shows that the F1-style twin-clutch automated gearbox that Audi calls S-Tronic is by far faster and sportier.

With S-Tronic the gears change in a blip with barely an interruption to acceleration. The addition of S-Tronic would take the TT RS to a whole new level of performance again. At the moment, the six-speed manual feels like it's holding it back. Perhaps the real reason is that there isn't an S-Tronic gearbox compact enough to fit on the end of the five-cylinder engine yet strong enough to cope with it's awesome power.

It's a good thing then that the TT RS's handling is superb. Some other testers said the steering felt a bit dull, but I liked it. To me it felt neutral, a bit like the rest of the car.

The all-wheel-drive system means you've got constant grip, even in the tightest and most awkward of turns. On the winding mountain roads of Baden-Baden, about 170km south of Frankfurt and near the French border, the TT RS felt like it was glued.

The superb 19-inch Michelin tyres also have a role to play, as does the chassis balance. The stability control system has been well-calibrated, too, so it doesn't intervene too early or too abruptly. It just works away in the background, fixing minor indiscretions.

The engineers have done a great job at getting the TT RS to go around corners, but it has come at a cost.

Back in the real world, stop-start traffic and low speed suburban driving, the TT RS loses some of its lustre. The same suspension set-up that allowed the car to feel so brilliant in corners and so stable at high speeds now feels sharp and uncomfortable over even the slightest hint of a bump or road irregularity.

This may be resolved on the Australian TT RS cars because Audi is having every one equipped with its adjustable Magnetic Ride Control suspension. This allows drivers to smooth out the bumps when they need to, and stiffen the suspension when they don't, all at the push of a button.

Fingers crossed this works. Otherwise, you'll just have to move out of town, somewhere near a very winding and very smooth road.

Price Guide: $140,000 (Australian price -- estimated).
Fuel: 98 RON minimum.
Engine: Turbocharged 2.5-litre in-line five-cylinder.
Power: 250kW at 5400-6500rpm.
Torque: 450Nm at 1600-5300rpm.
Claimed fuel economy: 9.2 L/100km (EU cycle).
CO2 emissions: 214 g/km (EU cycle). Meets Euro V.
On sale: in Australia December.

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