Audi has just reacted to numerous leaks and teaser shots of the new TT RS hot coupe, releasing these three shots of the new 300bhp five-pot that will arrive formally at the Geneva motor show next week.
Our story from Friday here has an audio track letting you hear the five-cylinder engine in action – and we’ll have more detail on the TT RS on 3 March when Ingolstadt finally confirms the power ratings and other details of the RS. All they say for now is that it’ll hit 62mph in well under five seconds.
Audi TT RS: the drip-feed
Yes, yes – it’s another annoyingly drip-fed stream of information on the top-dog TT. Last week, Audi issued a pair of annoyingly restricted shots of the RS model and the audio file of the 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine. Then a few full images of the car leaked out – forcing the company to release these three further shots of the coupe and roadster.
All part of the game in 2009’s web-savvy digital world, but we can’t say we’re disappointed not to read the full story here and now. Audi has refused to add any further information about the TT RS today, so we’ll have to wait a while longer for the official details…
So what do we know about the Audi TT RS (2009)?
We know this: the TT RS marries the Haldex four-wheel drive system to a US-sourced five-cylinder tuned for around 340 ponies and pound-feet. The RS badge doesn’t spell any significant weight-saving, if the previous RS models are anything to go by (yes – we’re talking about you, heavyweight RS6), but the standard TT does already use significant aluminium in its structure.
Visually, we can now finally see the full styling treatment for the TT RS: they gain a chromed horizontal strip stretching across the foot of the front and rear spoiler areas low down, plus a big rear wing and sculpted side pods. In fact, it’s about as aggressive a body kit as we can remember on a current-shape Audi.
Expect the new TT RS in showrooms in summer 2009, costing around £40,000. That soft-top roadster version will cost a good £2000 more, if budget TT prices are anything to go by.
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