This makes for a hard choice for us: the Audi TT RS drops on the same day as the newest generation Porsche Cayman. We had to postpone covering it for one day because of that pesky Cayman but no matter. Simultaneously launching in London and Beijing, this update pushes the 2016 TT as the most powerful series production model in history, with a 2.5-liter five-cylinder, turbocharged powerplant boasting a remarkable 395 horses while weighing 10kg less than existing five-cylinder unit. Yes that’s the weight the clever engineers shaved off the engine. We are still on record though with our gripe about internal combustion but we digress…
How does it compare with that Cayman? It seems to trump the figures we have. Demolishing the 0-100km/h mark in 3.7 seconds, the RS performance figures go higher in terms of the acceleration (4.2 seconds on the Cayman S) and output (350hp on the Cayman S). They match closely on top speed, at around 280km/h. Both are also evenly matched in therms of price at €65,000.
There’s a range of customizable options for the RS. It can come in either a soft-top roadster or in hardtop coupé form. There’s a choice of nine colors with an option for 20-inch lightweight forged alloy wheels.
On the exterior front, the RS has larger front air intakes, a honeycomb grille pattern and wider side sills, all contributing to a meaner affect. It also has a fixed rear wing as standard. A huge multi-fin rear diffuser and an OLED rear light cluster (a first for Audi) gives the car an edge more potent that the vanilla TT.
“The newly developed turbo five-cylinder engine, with which we are continuing our great tradition from the 1980s, conveys pure emotion,” said Dr. Stefan Knirsch, Audi Board Member for Technical Development.
When the tough competition rolls over on the release, we’ll be eagerly looking to see whether the RS or the Cayman wins out in the reviews and sales. While one manufacturer will probably come out with a loss, though, it’s great to have more choice on the side of the consumer. Also, both names are part of the VW Group so it is a win-win for the beleaguered behemoth (neither Audi nor Porsche have been tainted in the ongoing scandal about emissions cheating).
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