This week I have the 2018 Audi TT RS to show you. The TT has been sold in the U.S. since 1998, so for the 20th anniversary, Audi gave us a hot rod version with the RS.
This car is a head turner for sure. The front end is angular with a large grill, big air vents, and inlaid letters telling you it is a Quattro, which is Audi’s terrific all-wheel drive system. The 20” wheels and red brake calipers look great, and from behind, the fixed rear spoiler and huge exhaust tips complete the look of this speedster. I particularly like the aluminum gas cap cover that pops open to reveal a capless filler neck.
The real story with this car lies under the hood with a 2.5-liter turbocharged, get this, inline 5-cylinder engine. We don’t see many 5-cylinders anymore, but this one produces 400-horses and 354 lb-ft of torque and will take you from 0-to-60 in a quick 3.6 seconds and it’ll top out at 155 miles per hour. It comes with 7-speed automatic with shift paddles.
Inside, the TT RS is all Audi, which makes an exceptional interior. The black quilted leather seats with red stitching look great and are comfortable.
The flat bottom steering wheel looks fantastic and a red start button is perfect for your right thumb. Carbon fiber can be found in the cabin, and the aluminum pedals look racy.
Interesting to me is the 12.3” configurable instrument panel that sits right in front of the driver. You see everything there including your navigation map and rearview camera. If you go from Comfort mode to Dynamic mode, the panel changes to give you a tachometer, G-force gauge, horsepower and performance stats, and a lap timer. It gets a little busy at times, but you get used to it.
On the center console, you operate the Audi Multi Media interface from a combination of a round knob and switches. From there, you operate the navigation system, Bang & Olufsen stereo, use your cell phone, and choose your media including Bluetooth. You can use the top of the controller to scribe info like an address for the nav system.
All-in-all, the interior is very well done and you’ll love the round air vents that have controls in the center of them and red lines surrounding them. This is technically a 2+2, meaning it has a back seat, but just barely. It is great for putting a briefcase or maybe a medium to small dog.
The cargo area was larger than I expected and if you fold the back seats down, you can easily put two golf bags back there.
Equipment-wise, the TT RS comes very well equipped with heated power seats, keyless entry, parking sensors, 8 airbags, LED front and rear lighting, and USB ports.
Options on my test vehicle include: Technology package ($3500), Black Optic Package ($1750), Sport exhaust ($1000), RS Design Package ($900), Carbon Fiber inlays ($600), and Red Brake calipers ($400).
The driving dynamics of this car are terrific, and it feels like two different cars when moving from Comfort to Dynamic modes. In Dynamic mode, this car is incredibly fast, agile, the transmission shifts hard and fast, and the steering is exceptional. Switch on the Sport exhaust from the steering wheel and the driving experience is euphoric.
Base price of the TT RS is right at $65,000 and with options and destination charges, this one comes in with an MSRP of just over $74,000.
Fuel economy is surprisingly good at 19 in town and 29 out on the highway.
If you are thinking about a performance sports coupe that is a real joy to drive, check this one out.
