With the Audi TT RS, based on the second-generation TT, quattro GmbH developed its first dedicated sports car. To create a clear performance gap between the TT RS and the Audi TTS, the legendary Audi five-cylinder engine made its return after an absence of 15 years. The new 2.5-litre TFSI engine with direct fuel injection produced 340 PS and 450 Nm of torque. Its crankcase, weighing just 183 kilograms, was made from compacted graphite iron (CGI) – a high-tech material used for the first time worldwide in a petrol engine.
The distinctive 1-2-4-5-3 firing order gave the engine its unmistakable five-cylinder sound. An exhaust flap with reduced back pressure further enhanced this characteristic: under high load, it opened a direct exhaust path, giving the TT RS its signature exhaust note.
As standard, power was transmitted to the permanent quattro four-wheel-drive system via a reinforced six-speed manual gearbox. From autumn 2010, a seven-speed S tronic transmission, specially adapted to handle the engine’s high torque output, became available as an option, offering faster and more refined gear changes. At the heart of the quattro drivetrain was an electronically controlled Haldex multi-plate clutch, positioned ahead of the rear differential.
Weighing just under 1.5 tonnes, the TT RS featured a sports suspension lowered by 10 mm compared with the standard TT, with MacPherson strut front suspension and a four-link rear axle. Around two-thirds of the body structure was made from aluminium, with only the rear section constructed from steel. Its sporting character was underlined by a fixed rear wing, a Singleframe grille with diamond-pattern mesh, large cooling air intakes, oval tailpipes, a distinctive rear diffuser and numerous RS-specific styling details.