The 2012 Audi TT RS

TheFastLaneCar.com

The TT RS, a high-performance new addition to the Audi lineup, is a “breathtaking” performer. Only a small number will be sold here, all equipped with a six-speed manual shifter matched to a 2.5-liter turbocharged, five-cylinder engine. The new engine is docile at school crosswalks but “emits a delightful snarl under hard acceleration.” Though well-mannered on the street, this is a car for “serious drivers,” ready for a spin on the racetrack at a moment’s notice.

The New York Times

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Relatively few Audis get the performance-boosting RS treatment, but all are “wolves in sheep’s clothing.” In the compact TT RS, the power increase alone is stunning—from the base model’s 211 hp to 360 hp—good for a 4.1-second sprint from 0 to 60. Yet despite the ferocious performance, a “proactive” all-wheel-drive system helps tame the beast within, allowing this RS to double as an “everyday driver.”

Road & Track

At first glance, the TT RS isn’t all that impressive. But put the car in motion and it reveals the heart of an “asphalt-chewing, world-class driving machine.” Deep reserves of power, combined with confident handling and traction from an improved Quattro drive system, impress through every turn. This is “simply one of the most exciting sports cars on the market today.”