Audi TT RS One hundred and counting. That’s years, for 2009 is Audi’s 100th anniversary; in 1909 August Horch – who had split from the Horch motor company – named his new company after the Latin translation of his name (horch = listen = audio). But if Audi is rejoicing in its longevity, it’s understandably even more exultant about sales figures, for they are outperforming the other premium brands in the UK, in Europe, and across the world. They’re selling fewer cars than in 2008 of course, but the downturn is less than is being suffered by the likes of BMW and Mercedes. The new RS is the hot one of the TT range, and is yet another indication that although the world at large is trumpeting about its new green shoots, when it comes to performance motoring there are plenty of buyers prepared to turn colour blind and take the red route. The RS, which comes in coupe and roadster formats, takes a new 5-cylinder engine under its bonnet, with 340PS and a distinctly ungreen 0-60 time of 4.6 seconds. The RS is available as both coupe and roadster, but unlike the rest of the TT range it comes only in quattro form, so roadholding is scarily competent, even if you’re sufficiently confident to switch off the standard ESP. The power output is gained with TFSi technology, which is seen in quite a few of the Volkswagen-Audi cars, but not normally in these quantities. In brief, what you have here is direct injection and turbocharging, which VAG have christened Turbocharged Fuel Stratified Injection. Quite a few readers will know all about that, but very few I think will realise what gives this 5-cylinder engine its characteristic sound. In fact the firing interval of the cylinders is 144 degrees with a firing order of 1-2-4-5-3, which is alternately between directly adjacent cylinders and cylinders that are far apart. This produces the distinctive rhythm and what Audi considers an equally distinct musical sound, which are also the result of the intake and exhaust geometry. The power output is even more impressive when you consider that it’s gained from a capacity of just 2.5 litres, so we’re talking 137PS (135bhp) per litre. The trouble with that sort of power is that it’s always accompanied by fuel consumption figures that cause the green lobby to turn puce, though to be fair it’s rather less noticeable this time, for the official combined consumption of the RS coupe is a reasonable 31mpg; the roadster a smidgeon less. The TT is undeniably aimed at those to whom design is a major part of the wish list. Audi, being conscious of the fact that not all buyers will want to be advertising their ability to afford such machinery, has given the car an understated look. It’s a sports car certainly, but not of the spoiler-heavy boy-racer variety. Indeed, buyers can even opt to replace the discreet rear spoiler with an electrically controlled one that raises and lowers itself automatically. Parked up, this TT would at a casual glance look like one of its less expensive siblings. My drive of the RS was on home counties roads that were for the most part, as ever, a touch crowded. But no matter where you drive the RS, the experience won’t disappoint. Power is of course impressive, but no more so than the roadholding and solidity of the chassis, which feels totally composed whatever strange requests you might make of it. Suspension is, well, firm, and should you opt to press the Sport button of the £1,125 ‘magnetic ride’ suspension option you’ll be inclined to think that Audi forgot the springs. As they put it: “the ride is uncompromisingly stiff with practically no lateral roll”, and they’re not wrong; you could describe it as ‘concrete’. In addition to the Sport button, I could have done with a Boulevard button, because the Sport ride is not something which many passengers would thank you for. The coupe has two rear seats which will suit small children with even smaller legs. The roadster is a real two-seater with an electric soft top; not for Audi the current fad for folding steel roofs, and of course it is true that the weight of a steel roof would have a significant negative impact on the performance. The roadster’s fabric roof opens or closes in just twelve seconds at speeds of up to 31mph; it looks and is a thing of high quality. Audi expects full year UK sales of 400 cars. The way their sales are going at the moment I can’t see that this will prove any sort of a problem. The RS performs spectacularly and looks great, and though there’s plenty more to admire about the car, these two characteristics alone will be enough to shift those conservative numbers. Size:                                       4.20 x 1.84m Engine:                                   2.5 litre petrol Gearbox:                                6-speed 4WD Best consumption:                 Coupe – 31.0mpg Price at Aug ’09:                    Coupe - £42,985                                               Roadster - £44,885 Full details of the TT RS available on the manufacturer’s website: www.audi.co.uk Peter Cracknell – Sept 2009 l l l l Home New Models Industry Green News Odds n’Ends