Geneva TTeaseRS: Audi dangles first TT RS close-ups, audio file
by Alex Nunez on Feb 20th 2009 at 11:58AM 
Click above to view Audi TT RS teasers
The TT RS will make "well over" 300 horsepower from its turbocharged 2.5L five-cylinder. Expect it to go like stink, handle like a slot car, and make people write flowery new paeans to quattro. Look for the usual RS cues like monster-sized oval exhaust outlets and even more aggressive intakes up front. As the photos demonstrate, TT RS also sports LED driving lights and a fixed rear spoiler.
Oh, it sounds wicked, too. Just listen for yourselves. We'll be on hand next month to cover the big reveal in person.
Gallery: Audi TT RS and Roadster
[Source: Fourtitude]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
fixitfixitstop 12:01PM (2/20/2009)
I feel like I am seeing the convergence of the TT and a Mitsubishi Eclipse.
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Quattroporte 12:04PM (2/20/2009)
"The TT RS will make "well over" 300 horsepower from its turbocharged 2.5L five-cylinder."
"The range-topping TT is fitted with a new 2.5-litre powerplant that uses the architecture of the firm’s V10 motor. A single turbocharger helps to create around 340bhp and 330lb ft of torque, and the engine uses direct injection to improve fuel efficiency."
http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/Audi-TT/238351/
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zamafir 12:19PM (2/20/2009)
Yup, this thing is going to move and handle quite well, yet another audi i can't wait to track.
cdwrx 12:05PM (2/20/2009)
Blocked off mesh panels are fake and wrong and no.
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Quattroporte 12:10PM (2/20/2009)
I don't like "Blocked off mesh panels" either, but it's not completely blocked suggesting it's functional. A small mesh panel would probably have looked awkward, and to open it completely would have hurt aerodynamics.
cdwrx 12:26PM (2/20/2009)
The designer's job is to make things functionally attractive. The stylist's job is to make things attractive. I'm pretty sure which one called for the fake mesh and in my opinion has a little too much pull at Audi. To be fair, you see it on way too many brands, but I hold certain brands to a higher standard than others. I expect cheese from Chrysler. Audi, BMW, etc. should know better.
Torrent 12:13PM (2/20/2009)
looks the same except for the fake mesh.
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patrick clement 12:15PM (2/20/2009)
We seem to forget that the TT-RS engine is based on, and even is, the excellent 2.5l VW Rabbit engine, which is then based on the Audi v10.
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zamafir 12:23PM (2/20/2009)
Audi's and Labo's V10s are cousins in terms of their relation. The Rabbit engine isn't even in the same gene pool as the Audi/Lambo powerplants. That's just pure marketing BS used to grab 17 year old buyers and attempt to supplant their shock at just how slow the rabbit is. Sure it's an improvement on the 2.Slow before it, but it's related in no way to the V10.
I'm not sure i've ever heard a marketing pitch more laughable and outright obviously flawed than the 2.5L's half a v10 fantasy.
MikeW 2:25PM (2/20/2009)
Lamborghini made their own V10 (the 5.0) that used the 88mm bore spacing & 82.5mm bore (and 92.8mm stroke). That contrasted with Audi's 90mm spacing for longitudinal engines.
The new Lambo V10 now uses the 90mm bore and 84.5mm bore.
The 2.5Slow uses the 82.5 & 88 bore/spacing.
It would be really neat if the TT-RS engine utilizes 84.5 & 90 bore/spacing (400hp would be a chip away). We will see.
When the VW 2.5 came out, it made 60% of proportional power (1/2 * 493hp=247hp. 148hp/247= sad. The lambo 5.0 V10 had a dual length intake runner manifold + italian/german magic)
The 168hp VW 2.5 made 168/256hp = 65.5% in comparison to the ' 06 5.0 V10.
Half of the new 5.2 V10 would be 276hp.
I honestly thought that the 2.5 I5 had 2 valves per cylinder (scaled up 2.0slow), how could a new engine make such little power if it had 4 valve heads?
nagmashot 11:13PM (2/20/2009)
@mike W
Lamborghini is making no V10 on their own... all V10 engines (5.0 and 5.2) build into the Gallardo are build at Audi engine plant in Gyor and they are developt by Audi like most of the Gallardo... the Gallardo chassie is build by ThyssenKrupp in Heilbron Germany based on Audi´s aluminum space frame technology, the Gallardo chassie is then delivered to Audi´s plant in Neckarsulm were it is completely painted...
What Lamborghini does is stick together all ready build parts put a Lamborghini sticker on the car and claim it was build with italian pashion...
MikeW 9:11PM (2/21/2009)
Yes it is all the same corporate parts.
But the Italians probably asked the germans, can we make a longitudinal engine with the tighter cylinder spacing?
The germans: Okay
The italians: Do you guys want to use it?
Germans: No, not really.
MachinaDC5 12:20PM (2/20/2009)
Part of me hopes it makes 301 horsepower.
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Mazda FTW! 12:29PM (2/20/2009)
As if the TT-S wasn't hot enough.
DROOOL
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416Hammy 12:33PM (2/20/2009)
Someone please justify this to me at (likely) double the cost of a 370Z.
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Scot 12:36PM (2/20/2009)
You can drive it in winter...? Don't really know other than that...
zamafir 1:14PM (2/20/2009)
Do other cars with comparable performance, much better interiors, and slightly different advantages with higher price tags also vex you? Like the Cayman? Is it that hard to understand why people pay more for a brand with a more cohesive interior, less gimmicky crap like chintzy orange led lights for gauges, and prefer a slightly different approach (be it mid engine 6 or a blown 5 with awd and still less weight than the Z)?
Mazda FTW! 1:20PM (2/20/2009)
Two entirely different markets for the Z and TT-RS. Personally, I'd buy a Mazdaspeed3, use it for years and years while saving up money and then go straight to a TT-RS. I love the Z cars but the Audi is a design house on wheels.
Serge 1:58PM (2/20/2009)
Well...
1. 370z sounds like a leaf-blower; while the TT-RS sounds like a rally car.
2. 370z looks like a Japanese robot fantasy thingie; the TT-RS is quite elegant.
3. There is no way a RWD car with 330hp and 268ft-lbs torque is keeping up with an AWD car with 340hp and 300ft-lbs torque.
4. Audi's interiors are A LOT better than Nissan's the last time I checked.
But, what do I know...
Kooshball 3:19PM (2/20/2009)
@Scot: can you even really drive this in winter though? tires and ground clearance are often a bigger factor than drive wheels, and most performance-based AWD'ers (GT-R, 997tt) don't exactly come with snow tires or even all seasons. i'd wager this would do marginally better in bad weather than a 370z.
oh well, i'm sure this'll be a great car with a ridiculous asking price like everything else in audi's lineup. i'd probably rather go for a cayman S if this ends up slotting in the high $50's.