Audi TT RS

By Mark Nichol / Automedia

19th June 2008

Feast your eyes in the Audi TT RS, completely undisguised and getting ready to take on the might of Porsche!

Audi has sent the TT on a strict development regime in a bid to make it a genuine Cayman rival dynamically, and our spies captured this TT RS pounding the Nurburgring before it goes on sale later this year.

There'll be no mistaking the flagship TT from lesser models when it hits showrooms priced at around £40,000. Distinguished by chrome wing mirrors, an arched rear spoiler and two wide tailpipes, the TT RS will feature a 2.5-litre five-cylinder petrol engine, twin-turbocharged to produce 350bhp.

The turbochargers work in sequence, with a smaller unit running at lower revs for instant response before a larger one takes over, providing power at the top of the rev range. Channelled through Audi's dual clutch DSG gearbox driving all four wheels, the 0-60mph sprint should be despatched in under five seconds, making this comfortably the fastest TT ever.

At the same time, Audi will also to replace the 3.2-litre V6 engine powering the current flagship TT for the 280bhp 3.6-litre V6 petrol found in the VW Passat R36 - which we'll be reporting on very shortly.

And Auto Express will be first behind the wheel of the TT RS, so keep coming back to get all the details on this hot Audi first.

Tell us about your car in our Driver Power survey.