What's the news?
The Audi TT has already been given its midlife facelift but now it's time for the range-topping TT RS to gain the same changes.
We might as well start with the bad news (of sorts): there are no alterations to the RS's 2.5-litre inline-five turbocharged engine, or its seven-speed S tronic gearbox and quattro all-wheel drive. That means the updated TT RS still has 400hp and 480Nm, allowing for the same 3.7-second 0-100km/h time and eco-stats (spec-depending) of between 7.9 and 8.1 litres/100km consumption with CO2 emissions between 181 and 183g/km. The top speed of the Audi is limited to either 250- or 280km/h, as there's an option to raise the restrictor.
Thus, it's mainly visual work for the TT RS. It gains the same redesigned front end as its stablemates, while the lateral air intakes in the lower bumper have been enlarged. Lower down, a front splitter can be painted in either the body colour, or alternatively in matte aluminium or gloss black, while there's a gloss-black inlay in the TT's resculpted side sills. The door mirror caps can also come in body colour, matte aluminium, gloss black or carbon, while at the back the rear wing has been redesigned and now features side winglets to catch the eye. The rear diffuser has also been altered, although you'd need to be an eagle-eyed TT RS fanatic to spot that without it being pointed out to you.
Perhaps more notable is an extended colour palette for the TT RS, with eight colours available. Three of these are new, with Kyalami Green being specific to the RS; it is joined by Pulse Orange and Turbo Blue. Elsewhere, LED headlights are standard, optional matrix LEDs can be specified at the front and, at the rear, the clusters can be made OLED with a 3D design, if owners so wish.
Inside, it's pretty much 'as you were' for the TT RS cabin, so there's the Virtual Cockpit and fine Nappa leather and RS logos and so on. The additions pertain to a red 12 o'clock marking on the steering wheel, plus the option to have an RS Design Package, which adds red or blue highlights to the air vents, the seat belts and the floor mats if you so wish. An extended version of this pack sees further contrast design elements on the seats and centre console. A full MMI Navigation Plus infotainment system is packed into the TT RS, which also boasts a Bang & Olufsen 680-watt sound system.
Anything else?
Order books for the TT RS are already open in its homeland and other selected European markets, so it should hit the streets here sooner rather than later. Michael-Julius Renz, CEO of Audi Sport, said: "The new TT RS is in absolute peak form. Like a well-trained athlete, it showcases even more prominently how much power lies beneath its muscular outer skin."