May 27, 2009
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The Audi TT RS – the purist driving machine
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.
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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.
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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.


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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.
The equipment, specifications and prices
stated herein refer to the model line offered for sale in Germany.
Subject to change without notice; errors and omissions excepted.
(May 25, 2009)
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