In the spring of 2017, I had the opportunity to spend a weekend with the second-generation Audi TTS. It was my first time ever driving a TT. Finished in Vegas Yellow, it’s sleek design both inside and out turned heads and several people within my entourage stated that it looked like a baby R8. But while its turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine (the same engine that is found in the Audi S3 & Golf R) that produced 292 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque proved to be plenty quick for everyday driving conditions as well as agile around winding back roads, it definitely did not earn it the honour of being labelled as a baby R8. Fast Forward to roughly one year later, my friends over at Audi Anjou kindly passed me the keys to the holy grail of the TT range, the all-new redesigned TT RS. As you could imagine, as I got into the car for the first time, the recurring question to myself was, will this be the TT that deserves to be labelled as a baby R8? Within the first 15 minutes with it, the answer was… YES!
The designers at Audi took the time to differentiate the exterior of the TTRS from the TTS, its aggressive front bumper and rear diffuser result in a muscular and aggressive stance that is similar to the R8 and removes the notion of it being a “cute” car compared to the other TT’s in the lineup, as well as those of the past two generations. This is no ordinary TT, and pressing the start button on the steering wheel (just like in the R8) is where the fun really begins. You are greeted by a deep and distinct roar that is followed by pops and crackles that is just noisy enough to wake your neighbours in the morning. As it begins to warm up, switch the driving mode to Dynamic and that’s when the TTRS fully comes to life unleashing its turbocharged inline-5 cylinder engine that produces a whopping 400 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque. 0-100 km/h can be achieved in 3.4 seconds, which is 0.2 seconds slower to 100 km/h than the standard R8. Let that sink in for a second. Thanks to Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system, the car remains planted at all times and can easily be driven all year round.
When you are not busy looking for winding roads to conquer or your favourite neighbourhood apex, the TT RS proves to be very civil in its Comfort driving setting. In typical Audi fashion, the interior design is simple and to the point. Like the R8, there is no screen found in the central console. Instead, everything can be found within the driver’s view thanks to Audi’s virtual cockpit. Some people find it distracting, but after a short period of time, you get used to it. I’m personally a big fan of it and I find that the display is extremely clear, responsive and easy to use. Ergonomics wise, the diamond-quilted seats are sporty yet comfortable and offer plenty of support and add to the whole cockpit experience of the vehicle. There are two rear seats that are used more for storage than anything and people don’t realize how large the trunk space is given the size of the vehicle.
Fully loaded the TT RS comes in at roughly $85,000-$90,000, which I find is a great value considering that this is truly a baby R8. Other vehicles in its segment such as the M2 & 718 Cayman are also great contenders, but if you are in the market for an all-year-round sports coupe that can effortlessly serve its purpose in both the winter and summer, then the TT RS should not be overlooked.
Vehicle provided by Audi Gabriel
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Photography by Anthony Melotti