Trying to improve on the current Audi TT RS is a delicate situation. The coupe is already such a phenomenal car, giving it more power, a stiffer chassis, or more aggressive suspension and Audi runs the risk of over-cooking it. So it’s probably for the best the TT RS only receives cosmetic updates for 2019, but with the new facelift comes reports Audi’s pint-sized supercar is in danger of extinction.
Going into 2019 the TT RS keeps the 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder cranking out 400 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque to all four wheels, all of which is available from barely-off-idle at 1,700 rpm. The sprint from a standstill to 60 mph is over within 3.6 seconds, which, for the record, threatens the first-generation R8.
According to an Audi insider , the TT as we know it will morph into something else entirely. The TT’s replacement will share a platform with the A3 to stay relevant, practical, and cost-effective and also to give the Mercedes CLA and BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe competition.
A two-door version might still be an option, but with cost-effectiveness and market trends on Audi’s mind, don’t be surprised if a four-door version of the two-door car comes to life. Audi internally floated the idea of spinning off the TT into its own sub-brand, but it was ultimately squashed in favor of building out the A3 line. So it looks like a mini RS7 will replace the tiny R8 we’ve come to know and love.
It’ll be a bittersweet moment should the TT line disappear after more than 20 years in the Audi lineup. We’ll lose a modern icon and gain a more practical version in the process.
In a flat out race, it’s entirely possible the new 2018 Audi TT RS would demolish the 2012 R8 4.2-liter V8, then Audi’s top-end sports car. Read the Story