MONT TREMBLANT, Quebec – The 2010 TTS went a long way towards reversing the “hairdresser’s car” image Audi’s TT Coupe initially held. Although the TT boasted sexy styling, its performance just didn’t measure up against heavyweights from BMW and Mercedes.
The TTS’s two-hundred and sixty-five horsepower ramped the performance up a notch, but the introduction of the new TT RS permanently lays to rest the notion that this is anything but a serious sports car.
Dipping into its past, Audi re-invented the five-cylinder inline engine that powered the triumphant Sport Quattro of Rallye Monte Carlo and Pike’s peak fame. Rather than piling even more boost through the already overworked four-cylinder in the S3, and its resultant turbo-lag, the engineers at Ingolstadt decided to resurrect the legendary 5-cylinder engine. The result is a 340 hp. unit that delivers 332 lb. ft. of torque at just 1,600 rpms, all the way up to 5,300 – all while averaging 9.2 L of fuel per 100 kms.
The single TT RS available during Audi’s recent “Fascination of Quattro” event held recently near Mont Tremblant was quickly snapped up for the morning’s drive portion, but by forgoing lunch, two wily journos and I managed to snag it for the almost two-hour return trip to the airport.
Our “Sepangblau” blue tester has a silver-trimmed chin spoiler, jaunty rear wing, and rides on 18-inch split spoke wheels.
The snug cockpit features very highly bolstered, TT RS stamped, race-style seats, thick, flat-bottomed sport-steering wheel and plenty of stitched leather and bright chrome accents. Like all Audis, the materials are high quality, and soft to the touch.
That the rear seats of the stylish coupe were probably never really intended for human occupation didn’t occur to us – but I managed somehow to wedge myself back there for the first leg of the drive. Suffice it to say it wasn’t a pleasant experience, holding my head at an angle was the only way of avoiding contact with the rear glass.
The TTS’s two-hundred and sixty-five horsepower ramped the performance up a notch, but the introduction of the new TT RS permanently lays to rest the notion that this is anything but a serious sports car.
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| Unlike other Europe-only offerings Ingolstadt has teased us with, the TT RS will soon be available in Canada. (Photo: Lesley Wimbush/Auto123.com) |
Dipping into its past, Audi re-invented the five-cylinder inline engine that powered the triumphant Sport Quattro of Rallye Monte Carlo and Pike’s peak fame. Rather than piling even more boost through the already overworked four-cylinder in the S3, and its resultant turbo-lag, the engineers at Ingolstadt decided to resurrect the legendary 5-cylinder engine. The result is a 340 hp. unit that delivers 332 lb. ft. of torque at just 1,600 rpms, all the way up to 5,300 – all while averaging 9.2 L of fuel per 100 kms.
The single TT RS available during Audi’s recent “Fascination of Quattro” event held recently near Mont Tremblant was quickly snapped up for the morning’s drive portion, but by forgoing lunch, two wily journos and I managed to snag it for the almost two-hour return trip to the airport.
Our “Sepangblau” blue tester has a silver-trimmed chin spoiler, jaunty rear wing, and rides on 18-inch split spoke wheels.
The snug cockpit features very highly bolstered, TT RS stamped, race-style seats, thick, flat-bottomed sport-steering wheel and plenty of stitched leather and bright chrome accents. Like all Audis, the materials are high quality, and soft to the touch.
That the rear seats of the stylish coupe were probably never really intended for human occupation didn’t occur to us – but I managed somehow to wedge myself back there for the first leg of the drive. Suffice it to say it wasn’t a pleasant experience, holding my head at an angle was the only way of avoiding contact with the rear glass.
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| The snug cockpit features very highly bolstered, TT RS stamped, race-style seats, thick, flat-bottomed sport-steering wheel and plenty of stitched leather and bright chrome accents. (Photo: Audi) |