I’ll never forget the sight, more than a decade ago, of a blue Audi station wagon – one very different from the models I was more familiar with at the time.
Those flaming red brake callipers, boldly-styled bumpers, bucket seats and discreet Porsche-RS badge at the rear caused quite a scene on Durban’s Marine Parade and evoked an unbridled curiosity in me.
Would the performance match those bolshy looks? Could it really put down the power and quick response acceleration suggested by the rumbling exhaust acoustics as it roared down the street?
Years later, I browsed through an old motoring magazine that dated back to approximately the same time when I had seen this amazing Station wagon Audi.
And here, I would be reacquainted with the unique badge when a picture of Audi’s fastest production car ever tested was emblazoned on the front cover of a leading publication: the mighty RS2 – a car years ahead of its rivals at the time.
A joint development with Porsche, it featured a turbocharged 2.2L 5-cylinder engine, Porsche brakes and suspension and a Quattro system that it borrowed from its race-bred siblings which had already dominated world rallying in the eighties.
It was the epitome of a wolf in sheep’s clothing and built to rival BMW’s M3 at the time. And it went like the proverbial screaming banshee – no holds barred.
Audi claimed the RS2 accelerated from 0-100kph in under five-seconds and it could hit a top speed of 260kph-plus. It was even rumoured to be quicker than McLaren’s F1 road going car in the 0-50kph take-off.
Such speed and performance is the Holy Grail for any petrolhead and my love for Audi’s performance cars was cemented and I secretly yearned for the day I would be behind the wheel of an RS – and no, I’m not referring to lying on the ground having been run over!
I’ve since driven the mighty RS6 with a twin-blower 5.0L V10 powerplant that has mind-blowing acceleration, but it still never appealed to me in the way that the RS2 did.
That changed when I drove the latest development from the RennSport division – the TT RS – the flagship in the TT range and quickest-ever 5-cylinder from the German marque. It is also the first coupe model to wear the RS badge.
Exterior Design
TT RS is built on the latest TT platform that launched some five years ago and while the shape has somewhat dated, it still showcases sleek and compact lines made famous by its sibling.
In terms of on-road presence, it’s more ballsy and beautifully butch.
Unlike every other RS model that was assembled at the Neckarsulm factory in Germany, TT RS is assembled alongside its TT sibling at Audi’s plant inHungary.
Yet, TT RS differs vastly from the TT – it has a lower ride height, a larger air-intake grille, revised side sills, aluminium-finished side mirrors (distinctive on all RS models), a distinct rear wing, 19” Rotor Design wheels (optional extra) and large tailpipes that protrude at the rear.
The brake callipers, like all RS models, are etched in red and adorned with the RS badge.
The large ventilated and drilled are also quite visible, which adds to the aesthetic appeal of the car, but its main purpose is to provide exceptional stopping power.
Interior Design
The interior, on the other, doesn’t stand out as expected. Apart from the RS badge on the chunky steering wheel, alcantara/leather trim combo and brushed aluminium inlays, it basically is the same as the TT.
At the front, the car is airy with loads of legroom and comfy bucket seats – but you shouldn’t expect it to be every person’s cup-of-tea – a 6ft-plus driver will battle with the headroom and the rear seats serve no purpose whatsoever.
Instrument cluster differs vastly – it has a lap time functionality, boost pressure monitor and oil pressure minor. And it reads to a “halo” 310km/h.
While it comes with park sensors and SATNAV as standard equipment too it is not the most practical in terms of loading space, with a very shallow boot and fewer storage compartments than one can expect in a car.
Technical Overview
TT RS is fitted with an all-new 2.5L inline 5-cylinder engine with forged pistons and conrods and a specially-designed intake-manifold to house the K04 turbocharger.
Boost pressure has been set at 1.2bar, which is pretty impressive considering that most factory-turbocharged cars fall under the 1.0bar boost pressure level.
Our test unit featured the seven-speed S-Tronic dual-clutch gearbox. Gearshifts felt smooth, taking place in hundredths of a second as the clutches switch, with no perceptible interruption of pulling power. TT RS is also equipped with Quattro – a permanent all-wheel drive system, and uprated differentials to handle the high torque output from the 5-cylinder engine.
The engine is very responsive and thanks to the Quattro system, traction loss is almost minimal and reactions times are much quicker.
Audi claims exceptional performance with 250kW and 450Nm on tap – enough power to catapult the car from 0-100kph in 4.1 seconds (tested) and to a top speed of 250kph. If you’re really feeling lucky and you have a sizeable budget for fines and get-out-of-jail cards there is a factory option to govern the top speed at 280kph!
Performance enthusiasts will also revel at the 12.5 seconds at 180kph (tested) over the ¼ mile at the reef which is impressive in anyone’s language.
There’s also a “Sport” button which sharpens the throttle response and opens a flap on the exhaust to deepen the throaty grunt.
And it’s very economical on the open road. I managed an extra-urban consumption of 7.8-litres/100km whilst travelling at 120kph on a 600km round trip. But plant your right foot and your consumption will rise to more than 18-litres/100km.
Ride and Handling
In standard driving mode, TT RS has a 20:80 power distribution from the front to rear but it can be adjusted to distribute all that power to the rear wheels under hard acceleration and cornering.
The suspension offers a good balance of comfort and sportiness and although it’s stiffer it soaks up the bumps really well. The steering is sharp and very accurate and offers phenomenal feedback at high speeds.
Summary
TT RS is a niche piece of machinery – very fast and with plenty in its arsenal to klap Subaru’s STI Hatch, BMW’s M3 and Merc’s C63.
It’s a driver’s car and deserves to be driven hard and fast, its clever underpinnings put to work and its exceptional dynamic ride really tested.
But it doesn’t come cheap. Expect to fork out R732,000 for the base model and will cost a lot more if you opt for the optional 19” Rotor wheels (R19,300) and Black Styling Package (R4,650).
It is a definite if you’re a die-hard sports car fan with wads of cash lying around. It doesn’t have everyday practicality but it still has the bliss and character that harks back to its heritage of Quattro and that magical RS2.
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