New Audi TT RS on its way to UK

Having made its debut at the Beijing Motor Show, British fans' first chance to see the new Audi TT RS will be at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

As well as being considerably more powerful than any other TT on the market, the new RS version gets sharper looks, sportier suspension and faster steering compared to the rest of the range. There’s also more equipment inside and a greater range of options, too.

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Powering the new Audi TT RS is a 395bhp turbocharged 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine. This is enough to get the Coupe from 0-62mph in just 3.7 seconds (the Roadster takes 3.9) while the top speed can be limited to either 155 or 174mph on request.

All cars get the seven-speed ‘S-Tronic’ dual-clutch automatic gearbox as standard and this feeds the engine’s prodigious power to all four wheels via the famous Audi quattro four-wheel drive system. To ensure the car handles as well as possible, this system can send the power to whichever wheel has the most grip. As standard, the TT RS will get the Audi drive select system, which will allow you to alter various aspects of the car’s behaviour, depending on whether you want a sportier or more comfortable driving experience.

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Unsurprisingly, and as befits the fastest model in the range, the Audi TT RS gets some fairly significant changes on the outside. There’s a racy body kit that includes extended side skirts, a jutting front splitter and a large rear spoiler (both of which help add downforce for better grip). There are also large air intakes for better cooling and to help the engine get more air into it (and therefore perform better). You’ll also find a honeycomb mesh within the ‘Singleframe’ front grille and twin oval exhaust pipes at the back.

Inside, all cars will get the brilliant Audi virtual cockpit digital instrument cluster as standard. This will come with three separate screens, including a special RS screen that places the rev counter at the front and centre, while also incorporating shift lights – which will tell you when the optimum time is to change up a gear – as well as information on tyre pressures, a g-metre and other things. These models also get the top-of-the-range MMI navigation plus infotainment system, which includes sat-nav, Bluetooth, DAB radio, a wifi hotspot and a Bang & Olufsen stereo. Conductive charging for your phone is also available.

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The Audi TT RS will also get a unique steering wheel, which incorporates the gearshift paddles, as well as buttons for turning the engine on and off. You’ll also be able to adjust the drive select system from the steering wheel, which means you keep your hands on the steering wheel for longer.

While all cars will come with LED front and rear headlights as standard, the TT RS will be the first Audi to be available with Organic LED (OLED) rear lights as an option. These are even more efficient than standard LED units and are easier to control, allowing for greater design freedom.

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We’re told that the new car will arrive in Europe and the UK in the Autumn and, while there’s no UK pricing as yet, we do know that the Coupe and Roadster will start from €66,400 and €69,200 respectively. When it arrives, it'll be up against rivals like the new Porsche 718 Boxster, the forthcoming 718 Cayman and the Jaguar F-Type.