Audi TT RS Plus
Our verdict on the new range-topping Audi TT RS Plus coupe. Is it worth the extra £3,000?
A TT RS Plus makes sense if you’re considering a TT RS. The £3,000 premium more than pays for the extra kit you get – and that’s before you consider the performance boost. This is an explosively fast, easy-to-drive and well made coupé. Although it’s not as engaging as rivals, the Plus is still a great performance car.
The Audi TT RS Plus is the ultimate TT. A serious rival for the Mercedes SLK 55 AMG and Porsche Cayman, it promises to be better to drive than the RS, but is it worth £3,000 more?
Minor visual tweaks include a single-frame mesh grille with matt aluminium surround and a set of carbon-fibre mirror caps. It’s hard to miss the 19-inch alloy wheels, while there are also black tips for the twin exhausts.
Larger pipes add to the engine note’s intensity, hinting at the changes under the bonnet. The 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo makes 355bhp – that’s 20bhp more than the RS – as well as 15Nm more torque for a total of 465Nm.
The result is breathtaking performance: 0-62mph in 4.1 seconds means this is the fastest TT – two-tenths up on the RS.
A combination of large, grippy tyres and quattro all-wheel drive allows any driver to get the most out of the car: there’s absolutely no wheelspin as it surges forward.
The five-cylinder engine has a distinctive, warbling note and the seven-speed transmission responds the instant you flick the shift paddles. Hit the Sport button to open up the exhaust and there’s a purposeful blip between gears, plus a muffled pop that adds more excitement.
Steering response is almost telepathic, with excellent turn-in. Throw the Plus into a corner and it holds on relentlessly. You really have to push it before reaching the limit, and even if you’re too keen, it’s easy to back off and correct the steering. And most buyers will accept the extremely harsh ride as a trade-off for the sublime grip and road holding.
Despite the stiff ride, there are plenty of creature comforts inside, including Bluetooth, sat-nav and an iPod connection. All that standard kit, plus the increased performance, helps to justify the £3,000 premium Audi charges for this car over the regular TT RS.
