Audi TT RS Coupe 2020 Review

There are many headline figures that could be used to describe the 2020 Audi TT RS Coupe, but if you ask its maker, there are two that standout from the rest.

According to Audi Australia, the facelifted TT RS is the fastest car available this side of $160K.

Combing through its significant catalogue of features, the details are laid bare for all to read: a claimed 0-100km/h time of 3.7 seconds and a revised (and cheaper) purchase price of $134,900 (plus on-road costs).

However, as this month’s launch of the 2020 Audi TT RS Coupe proved, there is a little more at play.

Priced from under $135K, the 2020 Audi TT RS joins the entry-level TT Coupe 45 TFSI (from $79,900) and the TT S Coupe ($99,900) in a facelifted 2020 TT line-up that does away with manual, front-drive and Roadster versions.

As well as benefitting from the same upgraded gear and new look as its lesser siblings, the latest Audi TT RS boasts more performance and handling, befitting of its RS badge.

Standard equipment features include a wider ‘singleframe’ grille, larger air intakes, Matrix LED headlights, a fixed rear spoiler and ‘wafer-thin’ 3D lighting elements inside the tail-lights, as well as 20-inch alloy wheels.

Other standard equipment for the 2020 Audi TT RS includes a larger tachometer, coloured shift lights and G-force and lap timing gauges, along with a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system.

Inside, the same 12.3-inch Audi ‘virtual cockpit’ digital instrument cluster is carried over, along with driver assist features including active lane assist, reversing camera, parking sensors and tyre pressure monitoring.

The TT RS is officially unrated by ANCAP as it has not been assessed. But its TT donor car has a four-star safety rating dating back to 2015; hardly enamoring.

The 2020 Audi TT RS will come with the choice of two service plan packages – three years for $2330 or five years for $3420 – and Audi Australia says the first cars are due for delivery in July.

It is also offered with a three-year/unlimited kilometre factory warranty.

Power comes from a much more potent 2.5-litre turbo-petrol five-cylinder – an engine in which Audi says is a nod to its giant-killing rally days of the 1980s.

The 2020 Audi TT RS delivers 294kW of power and 480Nm of torque via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission to all four corners via Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system.

The powertrain is not only able to launch the junior sports car to 100km/h in a rapid 3.7sec, but baffles in the exhaust muffler can be activated inside the cabin to amplify its pops and crackles during spirited driving.

Braking duties are handled by huge eight-piston brake callipers up front, while a single-piston floating calliper clamps the rear.

As for handling and stability prowess, the German maker says the RS-tuned calibration automatically sends more drive to the rear wheels during dynamic driving to ensure ideal cornering balance.

RS sports suspension is standard, bringing the new TT RS 10mm closer to the ground compared to its non-RS TT siblings.

Put aside any preconceptions you might have about the Audi TT RS and hairdressers.

This is a sports car in every sense – the ride on 20-inch wheels is firm, prone to thudding and occasionally jarring, road noise is ever-present and particularly noticeable on coarse-chip sections, and cabin storage is limited.

The comfort compromises bring some payoff from an agility point of view; the TT RS’ 4191mm-long footprint lends a sharp and focussed driving experience offering decent (though not segment-leading) levels of feel and feedback.

With all-wheel drive grip at play, it’s a machine that doesn’t mind being flung around either, commensurate with its relatively light 1525kg kerb mass.

However, performance applications are also blemished by the TT RS’ small stature. On regional roads, mid-corner bumps and long, elongated undulations alike nibble away at the chassis and impede forward progress.

Highlights? The biggest one is that five-cylinder engine is endowed with an uneven firing order and a subsequently maniacal soundtrack. The five-pot brings a real sense of occasion and theatre to the TT RS’ bag of tricks.

As the 3.7sec 0-100km/h time suggests, it feels quick too. Climbing the speedometer is underlined by faithful grip levels and a strong suite of electronics at play.

After an initial hesitation – a symptom of turbo lag and the car’s dual-clutch automatic transmission – the five-cylinder develops tractable and accessible power across the dial. And the seven-speed automatic does a good job of keeping the engine at its sweet spot.

There is an inherent front-drive bias to the TT RS, even though quattro badging adorns it flanks. Pushed too hard, it has a tendency while the electronics package isn’t as proactive as other all-wheel drive set-ups.

Though the Audi TT RS brought a smile to our face on several occasions, it was tempered by the fact a well-driven RS 3 would execute the brief similarly.

Furthermore, they would do so with a useable rear seat area, more storage and a more functional cabin (notwithstanding the TT RS tinsel, which includes an Alcantara steering wheel and carbon-fibre inlays).

Like the more focussed R8, the TT RS is in desperate need of a centre screen. It’s one thing to call a cabin driver-focussed, but when the passenger can’t input navigation details or decide on tunes, it’s old-hat.

Audi’s TT has validated its place in the German car-maker’s line-up for some time now, especially in the case of the $80,000 entry model, which combines nifty design elements and technology with a capable driving experience.

The Audi TT RS ably extends those themes, especially in terms of performance. However, although it’s cheaper than before, the latest version is still squarely within the frame of better driving and better executed sports cars from Porsche, BMW and even Toyota. Not to mention Audi’s own RS 3 duo.

How much does the 2020 Audi TT RS cost?
Price: $134,900 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 294kW/480Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel: 8.0L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 181g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Not rated (Regular TT has a four-star ANCAP rating backdated to 2015)