X

Audi TT RS receives substantial performance boost

With its five cylinder engine, the TT RS boasts 400 horsepower, a big gain over its lesser siblings, along with a throaty exhaust note.

Wayne Cunningham
Wayne Cunningham reviews cars and writes about automotive technology for CNET's Roadshow. Prior to the automotive beat, he covered spyware, Web building technologies, and computer hardware. He began covering technology and the Web in 1994 as an editor of The Net magazine.
Wayne Cunningham
2017audittrs-002.jpg
1 of 30 Wayne Cunningham/Roadshow

Audi released its TT model, a compact premium sports car, last year in both coupe and roadster forms. Now, we get the RS version, which boasts even better performance.

2017audittrs-003.jpg
2 of 30 Wayne Cunningham/Roadshow

The TT RS coupe is a 2+2 seater, with comfortable sport seats up front and rear seats big enough for children or groceries.

2017audittrs-004.jpg
3 of 30 Wayne Cunningham/Roadshow

The standard TT RS comes with magnetic ride adaptive suspension, able to adjust its dampers for different road conditions and driving styles. A Dynamic package swaps that suspension for a lower, track-oriented fixed suspension.

2017audittrs-006.jpg
4 of 30 Wayne Cunningham/Roadshow

The biggest difference between the TT and TT RS is an extra cylinder. Audi gives the TT RS a 2.5-liter five cylinder engine, its turbocharger and direct injection helping it make 400 horsepower.

2017audittrs-017.jpg
5 of 30 Wayne Cunningham/Roadshow

The five cylinder engine gives the TT RS a throaty, deep engine note.

2017audittrs-007.jpg
6 of 30 Wayne Cunningham/Roadshow

Quattro all-wheel-drive, with a torque vectoring differential at the rear, comes standard on the TT RS.

2017audittrs-020.jpg
7 of 30 Wayne Cunningham/Roadshow

Audi has a long history of five cylinder engines. This one uses a firing order of 1-2-4-5-3, and makes a distinctly deep engine note.

2017audittrs-022.jpg
8 of 30 Wayne Cunningham/Roadshow

The TT RS gains the new geometric styling as seen on the new TT, along with some more aggressive lower air intakes.

2017audittrs-026.jpg
9 of 30 Wayne Cunningham/Roadshow

The TT RS is a small coupe, with a distinctly curved roofline.

2017audittrs-023.jpg
10 of 30 Wayne Cunningham/Roadshow

With launch control, the TT RS hits 62 mph (100 kph) in just 3.7 seconds.

2017audittrs-025.jpg
11 of 30 Wayne Cunningham/Roadshow

The fixed spoiler also marks the TT RS versus the standard TT.

2017audittrs-028.jpg
12 of 30 Wayne Cunningham/Roadshow

Sport seats offer matching power adjustments on driver and passenger sides, including adjustable bolsters.

2017audittrs-029.jpg
13 of 30 Wayne Cunningham/Roadshow

Audi tunes its electric power steering for a light feel.

2017audittrs-030.jpg
14 of 30 Wayne Cunningham/Roadshow

Buttons on the steering wheel control the big Virtual Cockpit display.

2017audittrs-031.jpg
15 of 30 Wayne Cunningham/Roadshow

Audi adorns the TT RS wheel with buttons for engine start and drive mode selection.

2017audittrs-032.jpg
16 of 30 Wayne Cunningham/Roadshow

The shifter controls the seven speed dual clutch transmission, while the dial further down the console takes handles infotainment functions.

2017audittrs-033.jpg
17 of 30 Wayne Cunningham/Roadshow

Audi won't offer the TT RS with a manual transmission.

2017audittrs-034.jpg
18 of 30 Wayne Cunningham/Roadshow

The sport view on the Virtual Cockpit puts the tachometer front and center.

2017audittrs-035.jpg
19 of 30 Wayne Cunningham/Roadshow

The standard view for the Virtual Cockpit matches that of the TT model.

2017audittrs-036.jpg
20 of 30 Wayne Cunningham/Roadshow
2017audittrs-037.jpg
21 of 30 Wayne Cunningham/Roadshow
2017audittrs-038.jpg
22 of 30 Wayne Cunningham/Roadshow
2017audittrs-039.jpg
23 of 30 Wayne Cunningham/Roadshow
2017audittrs-008.jpg
24 of 30 Wayne Cunningham/Roadshow
2017audittrs-009.jpg
25 of 30 Wayne Cunningham/Roadshow
2017audittrs-010.jpg
26 of 30 Wayne Cunningham/Roadshow
2017audittrs-011.jpg
27 of 30 Wayne Cunningham/Roadshow
2017audittrs-016.jpg
28 of 30 Wayne Cunningham/Roadshow
2017audittrs-014.jpg
29 of 30 Wayne Cunningham/Roadshow
2017audittrs-019.jpg
30 of 30 Wayne Cunningham/Roadshow

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos