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Audi RS3

Five-cylinder firepower for new Audi RS 3 Sportback

2.5-litre TFSI engine instils historic quattro character and modern day RS pace in new Audi compact hatch flagship

  • First ever compact class Audi RS model opens for UK ordering in December priced at £39,900 OTR. First deliveries are expected to begin in April 2011
  • Turbocharged five-cylinder TFSI engine linked to standard seven-speed S tronic twin-clutch transmission delivers 340PS and 450Nm of torque
  • 0-62mph in 4.6 seconds, governed 155mph top speed, 31mpg capability, 212g/km CO2 output
  • quattro drive, 19-inch alloy wheels, flared lightweight carbon fibre-reinforced plastic wings, widened track, sport button controlling throttle response and exhaust note

The revered RS badge is about to adorn a compact class Audi for the first time as the new RS 3 Sportback waits in the wings with suitably spectacular performance and an evocative five-cylinder soundtrack for a spring 2011 UK debut. The formidable yet usefully practical newcomer will be available to order in the UK from next month priced at £39,900 OTR.

Audi high performance engineering division quattro GmbH takes the five-door Sportback version of the A3 as the foundation for the latest RS model, and in deference to the classic quattros of the Eighties endows it with a turbocharged five-cylinder petrol engine that employs 21st Century TFSI turbo charging and direct injection technology.

First seen in the TT RS, this all-new unit fills the cabin with a rich, bass-heavy five-cylinder tone as it channels 340PS and 450Nm of torque to the road through a standard seven-speed S tronic twin-clutch transmission and quattro all-wheel-drive. A sound flap in the exhaust branch intensifies the sound even further when the driver presses the Sport button, which also varies throttle response.

Maximum torque is readily available at the low end of the rev range, from around 1,600 rpm, and remains constant up to 5,300 revolutions, making for excellent flexibility and response.

The large turbocharger generates up to 1.2 bar of boost pressure, and downstream of it is an intercooler which achieves an efficiency rate of more than 80 per cent. The combination of the latest forced induction technology with FSI direct injection facilitates a high compression ratio (10.0:1) along with a correspondingly high efficiency ratio. Flaps in the intake tract mix the air as it flows in. The two camshafts, each adjustable by 42 degrees of crankshaft rotation, also enhance the efficiency of the mixture formation.

As befits an RS model the impressive output of this engine is reflected in an exceptional 0-62mph sprint time of just 4.6 seconds and an electronically governed 155mph top speed. Yet less predictably, this rapidity doesn’t rule out the potential for up to 31mpg according to the combined cycle test.

Carbon fibre aids weight reduction
The efficiency of the RS 3 Sportback is due in large part to a delivery on demand oil pump and a regenerative system that recovers energy as the car decelerates, but is also facilitated by weight-saving measures including the use of strong but light vermicular graphite for the engine block and carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) for the front wings. These help to keep the kerb weight of the new RS 3 down to 1,575kg, to keep CO2 output down to 212g/km and, equally importantly, to elevate the power-to-weight ratio to an impressive 216PS per tonne.

The extreme performance is gainfully employed by a chassis that lowers the RS 3 Sportback by 25mm compared with the standard A3, and comprises McPherson struts upfront and a four-link rear set-up. Balance and composure are boosted by a widened, 1,564 millimetre track, and grip by 19-inch alloy wheels shod with 235/35 series tyres at the front and 225/35 at the rear. The standard wheel finish is a machine-polished titanium look, but a black finish with red rim inserts is also available as an option.

Highly efficient electromechanical rack-and-pinion steering provides a suitably direct gear ratio of 16.2:1 for keen turn-in, while internally ventilated disc brakes measuring 370 millimetres in diameter at the front and 310 millimetres at the rear modulate speed powerfully and progressively. Their aluminium covers are encircled by four-piston fixed calipers painted a high-gloss black and bearing RS logos. To support them, the electronic stability programme (ESP) features a Sport mode that activates later intervention of the braking and acceleration retardation functions to enable greater adjustability without compromising safety. It can be switched off entirely for circuit use.

The quattro permanent all-wheel drive system oversees proceedings, granting the RS 3 Sportback an extra measure of traction, composure and stability. Its central component is an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch, mounted at the end of the propeller shaft to achieve a favourable axle load distribution. Located in its interior is a plate package bathed in oil.

Thanks to quattro, the propulsive power can be distributed to each axle as needed. Whenever slip occurs at one of the axles, an electric pump intervenes at lightning speed to increase the oil pressure. The pump presses the clutch plates together, thereby permitting the torque to be redirected accordingly. Thanks to a powerful accumulator, this process takes just a few milliseconds.

Audi RS hallmarks
The latent performance potential of the new RS 3 is conveyed subtly but unequivocally at the front end by a deeper front apron that incorporates enlarged air intakes, an anthracite coloured single-frame grille with diamond-patterned styling and xenon plus headlamps.

The side view is dominated by the flared, lightweight front wings covering 19-inch alloy wheels, prominent sill panels, mirror casings in matt aluminium look and a large roof spoiler. A high-gloss black diffuser insert and two elliptical exhaust tailpipes on the left accentuate the styling at the rear.

Inside, sports seats are upholstered in Fine Nappa leather with silver contrasting stitching, and inlays are finished in Piano black or the new Aluminium Race look. A flat-bottomed RS steering wheel and an exclusive design for the instruments and S tronic selector lever also highlight this car’s status, as does a specially configured Driver’s Information System which displays boost pressure and oil temperature and doubles as a lap timer.

The array of standard equipment also includes the Sport button, acoustic rear parking sensors, electronic climate control, DVD-based satellite navigation with MMI (Multi Media Interface) functionality and xenon plus headlights with LED daytime running lights. Optional features include front bucket seats, roof rails in matt aluminium look and styling packages in black or matt aluminium. Five exterior colours are available, plus an unlimited selection of custom paint finishes.

Audi RS3

Five-cylinder firepower for new Audi RS 3 Sportback

2.5-litre TFSI engine instils historic quattro character and modern day RS pace in new Audi compact hatch flagship

  • First ever compact class Audi RS model opens for UK ordering in December priced at £39,900 OTR – first deliveries are expected to begin in April 2011
  • Turbocharged five-cylinder TFSI engine linked to standard seven-speed S tronic twin-clutch transmission delivers 340PS and 450Nm of torque
  • 0-62mph in 4.6 seconds, governed 155mph top speed, 31mpg capability, 212g/km CO2 output
  • quattro drive, 19-inch alloy wheels, flared lightweight carbon fibre-reinforced plastic wings, widened track, sport button controlling throttle response and exhaust note

The revered RS badge is about to adorn a compact class Audi for the first time as the new RS 3 Sportback waits in the wings with suitably spectacular performance and an evocative five-cylinder soundtrack for a spring 2011 UK debut. The formidable yet usefully practical newcomer will be available to order in the UK from next month priced at £39,900 OTR.

Audi high performance engineering division quattro GmbH takes the five-door Sportback version of the A3 as the foundation for the latest RS model, and in deference to the classic quattros of the Eighties endows it with a turbocharged five-cylinder petrol engine that employs 21st Century TFSI turbo charging and direct injection technology.

First seen in the TT RS, this all-new unit fills the cabin with a rich, bass-heavy five-cylinder tone as it channels 340PS and 450Nm of torque to the road through a standard seven-speed S tronic twin-clutch transmission and quattro all-wheel-drive. A sound flap in the exhaust branch intensifies the sound even further when the driver presses the Sport button, which also varies throttle response.

Maximum torque is readily available at the low end of the rev range, from around 1,600 rpm, and remains constant up to 5,300 revolutions, making for excellent flexibility and response.

The large turbocharger generates up to 1.2 bar of boost pressure, and downstream of it is an intercooler which achieves an efficiency rate of more than 80 per cent. The combination of the latest forced induction technology with FSI direct injection facilitates a high compression ratio (10.0:1) along with a correspondingly high efficiency ratio. Flaps in the intake tract mix the air as it flows in. The two camshafts, each adjustable by 42 degrees of crankshaft rotation, also enhance the efficiency of the mixture formation.

As befits an RS model the impressive output of this engine is reflected in an exceptional 0-62mph sprint time of just 4.6 seconds and an electronically governed 155mph top speed. Yet less predictably, this rapidity doesn’t rule out the potential for up to 31mpg according to the combined cycle test.

Carbon fibre aids weight reduction
The efficiency of the RS 3 Sportback is due in large part to a delivery on demand oil pump and a regenerative system that recovers energy as the car decelerates, but is also facilitated by weight-saving measures including the use of strong but light vermicular graphite for the engine block and carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) for the front wings. These help to keep the kerb weight of the new RS 3 down to 1,575kg, to keep CO2 output down to 212g/km and, equally importantly, to elevate the power-to-weight ratio to an impressive 216PS per tonne.

The extreme performance is gainfully employed by a chassis that lowers the RS 3 Sportback by 25mm compared with the standard A3, and comprises McPherson struts upfront and a four-link rear set-up. Balance and composure are boosted by a widened, 1,564 millimetre track, and grip by 19-inch alloy wheels shod with 235/35 series tyres at the front and 225/35 at the rear. The standard wheel finish is a machine-polished titanium look, but a black finish with red rim inserts is also available as an option.

Highly efficient electromechanical rack-and-pinion steering provides a suitably direct gear ratio of 16.2:1 for keen turn-in, while internally ventilated disc brakes measuring 370 millimetres in diameter at the front and 310 millimetres at the rear modulate speed powerfully and progressively. Their aluminium covers are encircled by four-piston fixed calipers painted a high-gloss black and bearing RS logos. To support them, the electronic stability programme (ESP) features a Sport mode that activates later intervention of the braking and acceleration retardation functions to enable greater adjustability without compromising safety. It can be switched off entirely for circuit use.

The quattro permanent all-wheel drive system oversees proceedings, granting the RS 3 Sportback an extra measure of traction, composure and stability. Its central component is an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch, mounted at the end of the propeller shaft to achieve a favourable axle load distribution. Located in its interior is a plate package bathed in oil.

Thanks to quattro, the propulsive power can be distributed to each axle as needed. Whenever slip occurs at one of the axles, an electric pump intervenes at lightning speed to increase the oil pressure. The pump presses the clutch plates together, thereby permitting the torque to be redirected accordingly. Thanks to a powerful accumulator, this process takes just a few milliseconds.

Audi RS hallmarks
The latent performance potential of the new RS 3 is conveyed subtly but unequivocally at the front end by a deeper front apron that incorporates enlarged air intakes, an anthracite coloured single-frame grille with diamond-patterned styling and xenon plus headlamps.

The side view is dominated by the flared, lightweight front wings covering 19-inch alloy wheels, prominent sill panels, mirror casings in matt aluminium look and a large roof spoiler. A high-gloss black diffuser insert and two elliptical exhaust tailpipes on the left accentuate the styling at the rear.

Inside, sports seats are upholstered in Fine Nappa leather with silver contrasting stitching, and inlays are finished in Piano black or the new Aluminium Race look. A flat-bottomed RS steering wheel and an exclusive design for the instruments and S tronic selector lever also highlight this car’s status, as does a specially configured Driver’s Information System which displays boost pressure and oil temperature and doubles as a lap timer.

The array of standard equipment also includes the Sport button, acoustic rear parking sensors, electronic climate control, DVD-based satellite navigation with MMI (Multi Media Interface) functionality and xenon plus headlights with LED daytime running lights. Optional features include front bucket seats, roof rails in matt aluminium look and styling packages in black or matt aluminium. Five exterior colours are available, plus an unlimited selection of custom paint finishes.

News

503ps Audi A1 Clubsport Quattro Wows Worthersee 2011

A1 clubsport quattro 02
A1 clubsport quattro 02
  • Audi presents the A1 clubsport quattro showcar at the annual Wörtherseetour meet (June 1 to 4) for Audi, SEAT, Skoda and VW fans
  • 2.5-litre five-cylinder TFSI engine with 503PS and 660Nm, 0-62mph in 3.7 seconds, 0-124mph in 10.9 seconds, governed 155mph top speed
  • Experience the Audi A1 clubsport quattro at world.needforspeed.com

A larger-than-life 503PS version of the smallest Audi to date makes its debut this week at Austria’s 30th annual Wörtherseetour meeting for fans of VW Group models. The one-off A1 clubsport quattro uses a heavily modified version of the RS 3 Sportback’s turbocharged five-cylinder petrol engine to deliver electrifying performance which is headlined by figures including 0-62mph in 3.7 seconds and 0-124mph in just 10.9 seconds.

The heart of the Audi A1 clubsport quattro is a classic Audi petrol engine – a five-cylinder unit displacing 2.5 litres with turbocharging and direct fuel injection. Compared with the version used in the Audi TT RS and RS 3 Sportback on which it is based, the output of the TFSI has been increased dramatically to 503PS and 660 Nm of torque. Maximum power is available between 2,500 and 5,300 rpm.

The turbocharger, intercooler, induction tract and the exhaust line have been systematically tuned for high performance. As on the Audi A4 DTM, the tailpipe is located on the left flank, just in front of the rear wheel.

Another area where the A1 clubsport quattro shines is in its overall weight of just 1,390 kilograms. This helps it to catapult from 0 to 62mph in 3.7 seconds, and from 0 to 124mph in just 10.9 seconds. The 50-70mph overtaking surge can be dispatched in fourth gear in just 2.4 seconds.

A six-speed manual transmission and quattro permanent all-wheel drive, both taken from the TT RS and enhanced, deliver the power to all four wheels. Top speed is governed at 155mph.

The Audi showcar rolls on 255/30 low-profile tyres mounted on 19-inch alloy wheels with a unique turbine design. Sitting behind the wheels are large, internally ventilated disc brakes. Up front, six-piston callipers grab perforated carbon fibre-ceramic discs. Large steel discs are mounted on the rear axle. The coilover suspension of the A1 clubsport quattro features adjustable compression and rebound damping.

Dynamic and brawny: the exterior

A1 clubsport quattro 01
A1 clubsport quattro 01

Visually, the exquisitely finished show car makes no secret of its potential. The body has a Glacier White matte paint finish, with accents provided by many add-on parts. The roof arch in high-gloss black supports a roof made of carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP), and the four rings at the front of the car are solid aluminium.

Large, split air intakes with carbon struts are integrated into the distinctively modified front skirt. The single-frame radiator grille sports a black honeycomb design, and the headlights feature matted clasps with a red “wing.” Heat from the engine compartment is dissipated via two large air outlets in the bonnet.

The front wings, the doors and the rear side panels of the Audi A1 clubsport quattro have been widened by a total of 60 millimetres. They form horizontal “blister” edges, like those found on the Audi Ur-quattro. Air outlets are integrated into the rear ends of the wings, and the newly designed trim strips on the sills are made of exposed CFRP. Sleek side mirrors are reminiscent of the Audi R8 high-performance sports car.

The rear of the showcar is dominated by the roof spoiler, which features a double wing to provide for sufficient downforce. Darkly toned rear lights and a large, closed diffuser hone the rear view of the A1 clubsport quattro.

Designed as a road vehicle for the race track, the showcar has no rear seat. In its place are a large crossbar to further stiffen the body and storage for racing helmets. A weight-optimized starter battery used in racing is mounted in the rear below the two storage compartments. The strict high-performance concept left no room for an infotainment system, an MMI monitor or even a loudspeaker. The lightweight bucket seats are taken from the Audi R8 GT and feature a chassis made of carbon fibre-reinforced polymer. Red four-point belts secure the driver and passenger.

The interior of the showcar is a study in dark grey. Large areas are covered with exposed, matte-finished CFRP, including the walls in the rear section of the car, the tubes of the air vents and the “stern of the yacht” in the lower section of the centre console. The CFRP material used on the open-spoked sport steering wheel is covered with leather. Rocker switches on the centre console replace switches on the control stalk and in the door panels. Three additional instruments indicate the oil pressure, boost pressure and electrical system voltage.

The centre console and the seats are covered in fine leather upholstery with tone-on-tone stitching. The selector lever is made of aluminium; the caps of the pedals and the surface of the footrest are made of stainless steel. Red loops replace the handles on the doors, the glove box and the covers of the storage compartments.

Experience the Audi A1 clubsport quattro interactively

The Audi A1 clubsport quattro can also be experienced exclusively in Need for Speed ??World (http://world.needforspeed.com), where it will be available to all players as a free in-game rental car from June 1 – 4. Need for Speed ?World is the Play4Free online PC racing game from EA, in which players take part in races in a giant multiplayer world.

Audi RS5

UK specification now confirmed for Audi RS 5

High-revving V8, S tronic twin-clutch transmission, upgraded quattro system and impressive specification grace latest RS flagship

  • RS 5 Coupe available to order in the UK priced from £57,480 OTR for first deliveries in October
  • 4.2-litre FSI petrol engine linked to seven-speed S tronic twin-clutch transmission delivers 450PS at 8,250rpm and 430Nm between 4,000 and 6,000rpm
  • 0-62mph in 4.6 seconds, governed 155mph top speed, 26.2mpg combined economy, 252g/km CO2
  • Newly developed centre differential for quattro drivetrain combines with acclaimed quattro sport differential on the rear axle fitted and Dynamic Ride Control

Audi UK has today confirmed an OTR price of £57,480 for the UK-bound RS 5 high performance coupe. Featuring a high-revving V8 FSI petrol engine delivering 450PS through rapid-fire S tronic twin-clutch transmission, and anchored by the very latest Audi driver aids, including a new iteration of the quattro system, the new RS flagship will open for order in the spring. First customer deliveries are scheduled for October.

The V10 FSI engine from the R8 5.2 FSI quattro provides the technological basis for the new hand-built, 4.2-litre V8 FSI engine that delivers its 450PS peak output at a heady 8,250rpm in the RS 5, along with a torque maximum of 430Nm at between 4,000 and 6,000rpm. Helped by fast-paced shifts from a specially reinforced version of the seven-speed S tronic twin-clutch transmission, which makes its RS debut here, it enables the RS 5 to power to 62mph in 4.6 seconds and continue to an electronically governed 155mph top speed. Its impressive efficiency, bolstered by on-demand oil pump operation and energy recovery during coasting and braking, also makes up to 26.2mpg possible.

New quattro technology
This remarkable engine and transmission pairing has the very best habitat in which to demonstrate its capabilities thanks to the integration of the Dynamic Ride Control (DRC) adaptive damping system adopted from the RS 6, the sport differential which already brings acute adjustability to the S4 and S5 and the latest generation quattro all-wheel-drive system with crown gear differential.

The self-locking crown-gear centre differential can widely vary the distribution of torque between the front and rear axles. If necessary, up to 70 per cent can flow to the front or as much as 85 percent towards the rear. The 40:60 ratio of the standard rear-biased configuration ensures highly responsive handling.

Audi drive select
The Audi drive select vehicle dynamics control system is a standard feature of the new RS 5. It allows the driver to switch between three modes of operation (comfort, auto, and dynamic) to adjust the steering weighting, the shift points for the seven-speed S tronic, the sport differential, Dynamic Ride Control, the engine and the exhaust system. And if the car is equipped with the optional MMI navigation system, a fourth mode allows the driver to customize their own profile. Audi drive select also controls the exhaust system’s two throttle valves and the sound flaps, enabling the exhaust note to be varied at will.

With its RS-specific spring, damper and anti-roll bar settings, the RS 5 chassis sits 20 millimetres lower than that of the Audi A5 on 19-inch five-spoke Aero design alloy wheels fitted with 265/35 tyres. Its purposeful body is also embellished by adaptive swivelling xenon headlamps with LED daytime running lights and LED rear lights, a speed-activated rear spoiler and the now trademark oval RS tailpipes.

Inside, black Silk Nappa leather upholstery is complemented by carbon fibre and aluminium elements and additional oil temperature and lap timer gauges for circuit use. Electrically adjustable super sports seats with pronounced side sections and integrated head restraints are standard, as of course are comforts such as a 180-watt CD sound system, deluxe three-zone climate control, the Audi Parking System Plus with front and rear sensors, tyre pressure monitoring and an RS multi-function steering wheel with aluminium-look gearshift paddles.

Key options will include 20-inch alloy wheels, a sports exhaust system, HDD-based satellite navigation, adaptive cruise control and a 505-watt Bang & Olufsen audio system.

Audi TT RS

Potent new Audi TT RS takes five in Geneva

Latest standard bearer for celebrated Audi RS range pays homage to 1980s quattros with high-tech five-cylinder power

  • New TT RS Coupe and Roadster debut at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show (March 5th to 15th) and open for UK order in late March priced at £42,980 OTR for the Coupe and £44,880 OTR for the Roadster – first deliveries in June
  • First modern day Audi model since the emblematic quattro coupes of the 1980s to feature charismatic five-cylinder power in a new high-tech form that makes 340PS and 30mpg a reality
  • 2.5-litre TFSI unit delivers 340PS from 5,400rpm to 6,700rpm, 450Nm from 1,600rpm to 5,300rpm, 0-62mph in 4.6 seconds (Roadster 4.7 seconds), top speed limited to 155mph but can be increased at extra cost to 174mph, combined mpg 30.7 (Roadster 29.7mpg)
  • RS 4-style Sport button boosts throttle response and further enriches exhaust note
  • New six-speed manual transmission, enhanced quattro system capable of diverting almost all torque output rearwards, TT RS-specific sports chassis lowered by 10mm (Audi magnetic ride adaptive damping available at extra cost)

At the 2009 Geneva Motor Show (March 5th to 15th) the spirit of the revolutionary Audi quattro coupes of the 1980s will be reborn for the 21st Century in the TT RS, a remarkable fusion of these two emotive modern day Audi hallmarks equipped with a new high-tech, 340PS interpretation of the quattro’s evocative five-cylinder turbo engine. Available to order in the UK in Coupe and Roadster forms from late March priced at £42,980 OTR and £44,880 OTR, the new high performance sports cars will reach their first customers in June.

The successor to the five-cylinder, 200PS-plus turbo charged petrol engine that delivered premier league power with a famously charismatic engine note in the rally-bred quattro road cars of the Eighties blends that same unmistakeable acoustic character with performance and economy that epitomises the modern day Audi RS.

Ultra compact, and weighing in at a low 183kg, the new 2.5-litre TFSI engine is a perfect accompaniment to the lightweight aluminium and steel hybrid TT bodyshell, helping to keep the kerb weight of the RS Coupe down to 1,450kg, and contributing to an exceptional power-to-weight ratio of 234PS per ton. This weight consciousness is reflected in a 4.6-second 0-62mph sprint time and, more unexpectedly for an overtly performance focussed sports car, in a combined fuel economy figure of 30.7 mpg. In common with many high performance Audi models, the TT RS is electronically limited at the factory to a top speed of 155mph, but for the fortunate few enjoying regular access to derestricted tarmac, the limit can be raised at extra cost to 174mph.

RS 4-style Sport button

The prodigious power is accessed by way of a new rapid-shifting six-speed close ratio manual gearbox, and the exhilarating surge triggered by each successive gear shift is enlivened by a sonorous soundtrack that is a much loved trademark of five-cylinder engines. This addictive accompaniment can be further amplified by pressing a Sport button on the transmission tunnel which not only alters throttle response but also opens a flap in the left exhaust tailpipe to further intensify the exhaust sound.

To ensure that the high levels of torque involved are employed as gainfully as possible the latest incarnation of the hydraulic multi-plate-clutch-based quattro system designed specifically for transverse engine installations oversees measured transmission to the four driven wheels. The hydraulic clutch is capable of directing the majority of torque from front to rear if sensors deem this necessary.

The equilibrium made possible by quattro drive and by the counterbalancing effect of positioning the hybrid body’s 31% steel content (Roadster 42%) towards the rear contributes to a feeling of exceptional neutrality on challenging roads. The sophisticated, aluminium-intensive McPherson strut front and four-link rear suspension with RS-specific settings backs this up with incredible agility and composure.

At extra cost the standard sports chassis can also be equipped with the Audi magnetic ride adaptive damping system incorporating sophisticated dampers filled with a magnetorheological fluid containing minute magnetic particles that can be influenced by an electromagnetic field. By applying a voltage to the system’s electromagnets, the viscosity of the fluid is altered by the affected magnetic particles, increasing resistance to damper movement to iron out pitch and roll when necessary, and reducing resistance when ride comfort takes precedence.

ESP with Sport mode

The reassurance to drive the TT with the conviction that befits an RS model is provided by sizeable ventilated disc brakes with black four-piston aluminium callipers and diameters of 370mm at the front and 310mm at the rear. The Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP) adds to that reassurance without excessively numbing performance or dulling feedback and adjustability thanks to its Sport mode, which prevents the system from retarding engine output to monitor traction and delays braking intervention for as long as possible. ESP can also be fully switched off.

From their sizeable, air-gulping front intakes, through extended side sills and stunning 18-inch 5 twin-spoke alloy wheels to the downforce-maximising fixed rear spoiler and enlarged oval tailpipes, the latest TTs signal intent but with a degree of restraint that is in keeping with Audi RS tradition. Customers wanting to keep the lowest possible profile can even opt to replace the fixed rear spoiler with a more discreet version which raises and retracts automatically.

Inside, the highly favoured TT sports interior is finished exclusively in black, with brushed aluminium inlays and aluminium footrests and pedals providing contrast and RS logos adorning the heated Silk Nappa leather sports seats, the thickly-rimmed flat-bottomed steering wheel, the rev counter and the door sill trims. True to Audi RS form, the standard Driver’s Information System has additional displays for boost pressure and oil temperature, and also includes a lap timer for circuit use.

Customers looking for maximum differentiation can add 19-inch or 20-inch wheels, bucket seats with folding backrests and even Ibis White or Phantom black painted interior inlays at extra cost, in addition to the latest navigation and multimedia options.