The Audi TT RS – the purist driving machine

AUDI TT RS Roadster

INGOLSTADT : May 26, 2009 - Five-cylinder engines are in Audi’s DNA. The company is once again building such an engine – this time a high-performance engine. The Audi TT RS, developed by quattro GmbH, sports a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine with FSI direct gasoline injection under the hood that produces 250 kW (340 hp) and 450 Nm (332 lb-ft) of torque, yet consumes only 9.2 liters/100 km (25.57 US mpg). In conjunction with quattro permanent all-wheel drive, the powerful five-cylinder model offers explosive performance, making the compact Audi TT RS – whether the Coupé or the Roadster – a purist driving machine.

Potent five-cylinder gasoline engines enjoy a long tradition at Audi, powering cars like the “Ur-quattro” (original quattro) to the head of the pack. Audi has resumed using this recipe. The newly developed engine combines a turbocharger with FSI direct gasoline injection to make the TT RS an uncompromising sports car.

The TFSI delivers 250 kW (340 hp) from a displacement of 2,480 cc: an output of 137.1 hp per liter. Weighing only 1,450 kilograms (3,197 lb), the Coupé boasts a power-to-weight ratio of only 4.3 kilograms (9.5 lb) per hp. For the Roadster (1,510 kilograms (3,329 lb)) this figure is 4.4 kilograms (9.7 lb) – the low values are made possible by the extremely lightweight bodies utilizing the Audi Space Frame (ASF). They are made of aluminum up front and steel sheet at the rear.

The TT RS Coupé rockets from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in 4.6 seconds, the Roadster in 4.7 seconds. The governed top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph) is merely the official figure for both versions; as an option, it can be increased to 280 km/h (174 mph). Peak torque of 450 Nm (332 lb-ft) is available between 1,600 and 5,300 rpm, providing tremendous pulling power. The TT RS Coupé requires only 9.2 liters of fuel per 100 km (25.57 US mpg), while the Roadster consumes just 9.5 l/100 km (24.76 US mpg) – another example of how Audi combines dynamics and efficiency.

The powerful five-cylinder unit is very compact and particularly lightweight. Its large turbocharger generates up to 1.2 bar of relative boost pressure. At full load, the intercooler reduces the temperature of the compressed air and achieves an efficiency of more than 80 percent. When the driver pushes the standard Sport button on the center tunnel, a flap installed in the left exhaust tailpipe renders the exhaust noise even more intense while making engine response more direct.
Purist character: drivetrain and suspension

A manual six-speed transmission characterized by high efficiency and tightly spaced gears of a sporty nature distributes the tremendous power of the five-cylinder engine to the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system, which gives the TT RS enormous traction, superb dynamics and supreme stability.

The innovative mix of materials in the body provides of an exquisitely balanced axle load distribution and outstanding rigidity. This rigidity is the basis for the car’s precise handling. The standard sports suspension lowers the body by 10 millimeters. Available as an option is the Audi magnetic ride adaptive damping system, which offers two basic characteristics: Comfort and Sport.

The Audi TT RS rolls on 18-inch tires shod with 245/40 tires. The internally ventilated brake disks measure 370 millimeters in diameter up front and 310 millimeters at the rear. The front friction rings are perforated. They are connected by hollow pins to the aluminum brake disks, which are encircled by black four-piston brake calipers bearing RS logos. The ESP stabilization system has a Sport mode and can be completely deactivated.

The full potential of the Audi TT RS driving machine is obvious at first glance. The front and rear skirts and the side of the car have been distinctively modified. A stationary rear spoiler is standard, though customers can opt for one which automatically extends and retracts.

The dynamic image of the TT RS carries over into the all-black interior. Standard equipment includes heated sport seats with leather and Alcantara surfaces, brushed aluminum inlays, a flat-bottomed leather multifunction sports steering wheel, a boost pressure indicator, an oil temperature gauge, a lap timer, automatic air conditioning, the concert audio system and xenon plus headlamps with LED daytime running lights. The Roadster also includes an electrohydraulic top and a power wind deflector.

Delivery of the TT RS begins this summer, with the Coupé priced at €55,800 and the Roadster at €58,650.

Technical Data

Engine

Newly developed, 2.5-liter five-cylinder unit with turbocharging and FSI direct fuel injection
250 kW (340 hp) and 450 Nm (332 lb-ft) of torque
Exceptional performance: 0 – 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.6 seconds (Coupé), top speed 250 km/h (155 mph), with 280 km/h (174 mph) available as an option.
Average consumption only 9.2 liters/100 km (25.57 US mpg) (Coupé)

Transmission

High-efficiency six-speed manual
quattro permanent all-wheel drive with hydraulic multi-plate clutch

Chassis

Advanced suspension mountings, four-link design in the back
High-performance brakes with four-piston calipers up front
18-inch wheels with 245/40 tires standard; optional 19 and 20-inch wheels
Optional Audi magnetic ride adaptive damping

Body and design

Lightweight and very strong ASF body of aluminum and steel, weighs only 206 kilograms (454 lb) (Coupé)
Larger air intakes up front, distinctive diffuser insert in the rear, stationary rear spoiler

Equipment

Comprehensive standard equipment, including xenon plus headlamps with LED daytime running lights, heated sport seats with leather/Alcantara surfaces, driver information system with indicators for boost pressure and oil temperature as well as a lap timer.

Images : Audi TT RS Coupe' / Roadster