Rumormill: Audi TT RS, RS5 coming Stateside
Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2010 Audi TT RS
Audi's PR department has continued to toe the line that TT RS is not meant for Stateside consumption. However, MotorTrend's unnamed Audi insiders are saying the 335-hp coupe will make it to the U.S., albeit several months after its European introduction.
According to the report, Audi USA has decided to delay the introduction of the hottest TT so the new 265-hp TT S can gain traction in the U.S. – or more accurately, before the RS variant steals the show. But that's not all we have to look forward to.
The RS5 is still in the pipeline and MT pegs output of the 2+2 at around 500 hp, with a rear-bias Quattro system and a torque-vectoring rear differential joining upgraded brakes and a suitably aggressive body kit. We've already seen spy shots of the RS5 making runs around the 'Ring with its Bauhaus sibling, although there's still considerable debate about what lies under the hood, particularly after a video surfaced of the RS5 taking hot-laps around the Nordschleife.
While we're still suitably cautious about the TT RS' future in the States, Audi is considering bringing over the A4 Allroad – a model that was originally developed for our friends abroad – so there may be hope left for some more RS love in the U.S.
Gallery: Geneva 2009: 2010 Audi TT RS
Gallery: Audi RS5 - spy shots
[Source: MotorTrend]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Randy915 8:09PM (3/09/2009)
I might get flamed for this but I don't think the 5 is as good looking as some people are praising it to be. It does have the traditional bold Audi front and a decent rear end but something about it makes it look anonymous especially if it didn't have its LED on.
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Rev 8:34PM (3/09/2009)
Agreed. I've seen several A5s on the road. It looks like a large Audi/glorified VW. Considering I'm not an Audi fan I couldn't distinguish it from any other Audi ~ though, in the white pics above it doesn't look that bad...
But in person it sure is big. From the side it has that Honda look ~ kinda reminds me of the previous gen Accord. From the rear it looks like a BMW copy. And goodness, the little ornaments around the headlights look rice-o-licious ridiculous. Probably not cheap to get those replaced with less-ricey lights, though perhaps removing the fuse could at least turn them off?...
montoym 8:41PM (3/09/2009)
quote from Rev: -
"Considering I'm not an Audi fan I couldn't distinguish it from any other Audi ~ though, in the white pics above it doesn't look that bad..." -
The white car is the TT-RS, not the RS5. You may not be an Audi fan but can you honestly say that you don't see any differences between the two? Not even after reading the titles above the galleries??
Mazda FTW! 10:50PM (3/09/2009)
Rev ur weird man. Park a A5 next to a Honda Accord and then we'll talk arite?
Rod 2:26AM (3/10/2009)
@ Rev :
" A5/S5's look like any other car on the road" - You can't be serious with that statement. You do know that Audi/BMW/Mercedes have had distinctive lines on their car since the 80s right? Audi has been imitated by other car makes when it comes to styling for years. Audi is the undisputed benchmark when it comes to interior design - just read any magazine or visit an autoshow near you to experience it for yourself. Since you dislike the cars so much to begin with, it must be because you can't own one????
German styling and Italian lines - Definitely a distinctive car in anyone's book:
http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/7/web/3103000-3103999/3103249_17_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/7/web/3103000-3103999/3103249_16_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/7/web/3103000-3103999/3103249_37_full.jpg
Frylock350 9:40AM (3/10/2009)
@Rod,
Sorry, I must agree with Rev, its hardly distinctive. Its still a wedge-on-wheels that shares a basic profile with virtually every other car in production.
The Chrysler 300 is distinctive. It shares it shape with only the Rolls Phantom.
kashif_Zaidi24 8:12PM (3/09/2009)
Also bring RS6 to the Unites States. I want to see CTS-V vs RS6.
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superman211 10:36AM (3/10/2009)
That would be good. 550hp RWD vs 580hp AWD
I'm really looking forward to the RS5! BMW will not have anything to put up against it but the new E class coupe from MB will be a good competitor in the 63 AMG version.
S5 is good at 355hp but this at 500+ should rip up the competition pretty good!
tuna 8:15PM (3/09/2009)
At the rate our economy is going... who is going to be able afford these things? Not I.
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MixiM 8:30PM (3/10/2009)
Actually, the dollar has strenghtened itself relative to alot of european currencies.. This summer i bought 1 Dollar for 5.90 swedish crowns... Today it's over 9 swedish crown... So european cars should be cheaper now... Because everything got really expensive to bouy from the US.
tuna 8:50PM (3/09/2009)
Won't mean much when we're all out of work.
zamafir 10:34PM (3/09/2009)
If the TT-RS makes it state side I'll buy one, the RS5 won't be that much quicker, though the V10 sounds great the TT-RS is simply going to rock in the canyons and on the track.
C36AMG 8:22PM (3/09/2009)
well tt-rs nothing special. regular tt with sport package looks just as good to me personally. i dont mean anything bad but just the design of the car is good across all version that this does not stand out enough to be called RS.
make it more RAW and call it RS.
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Ken 10:01PM (3/09/2009)
I don't know, I somehow think an additional 70hp justify giving it an RS moniker more than any sort of styling changes would.
Phil 1:57AM (3/10/2009)
Im an Audi fan and I agree with you C36AMG. Audi RS's should have widebody, flared fenders. However the engine/performance sounds great in this car and the interior and seats are about as perfect as it gets. I just believe Audi could have went all out and gave it some wilder body work like all previous RS's. I'm going to have to pass on the TT-RS and go RS5. I do bet a simple chip upgrade to the TT-RS will drop the 0-60 times from 4.4sec down into the high 3s and take that 340bhp up to 420+ Nice work Audi, but I really expected more visually out of an RS... Clubsport TT anyone???
P.V. 8:33PM (3/09/2009)
[whew]
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Turall 8:38PM (3/09/2009)
Sweet! Glad I haven't ordered an M3 yet!
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Tagg 9:04PM (3/09/2009)
Both are outstanding looking in my opinion just like the entire Audi lineup. I think their SUV's are so much better looking than their German counterparts same for their most of their cars. Only the S Class looks as good as the A8 but the rest of lineup is dominated by Audi in style.
Audi's are without a doubt my favorite of the luxury automakers.
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Phil 2:00AM (3/10/2009)
Well Said, I agree. Audi's got something going these days.
Mobius_1 9:06PM (3/09/2009)
500bhp, quattro, A5 looks, Audi interior...
Now excuse me while I go off and buy lots and lots of lottery tickets.
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