We drive the horny five-cylinder on the Col de Turini
In 2014 we drove this generation TT for the first time, and in 2016 with the TT RS. In 2019 Audi’s fastest little one got a facelift with some new bumpers. And now, in 2022, the big news is that it still exists. AMG goes from eight to four cylinders, BMW builds front-wheel drive. Everything changes, but this Audi TT RS Roadster refuses to give in. He still proudly shows off a 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbo engine: 400 hp strong, 3.9 seconds from 0 to 100 quickly and 5,000 roaring laughter good.
Audi is damn smart. They know we haven’t been able to do press releases for a long, long time where we drove a fast car on an exceptional road. So what do they do? To celebrate 40 years of quattro, they put us in an Audi TT RS Roadster on the Col de Turini (see our video below – of the coupé, which we also drove). After they first let us ride in the new Audi RS 3 with driver Frank Stippler at the wheel. And whether we will come back jubilant. We feel like a bunch of toddlers in Disneyland.
The RS 3 is completely new and gets a differential lock on the rear axle, which should give it a cheerful swishing ass. We have now ridden it ourselves. Most importantly, he keeps his five-cylinder. When it comes to this engine, Audi’s brand average CO2 emissions can be stolen for a while. They do build some extra e-trons. The five-cylinder is the pivot of their history. The five-cylinder remains.
Age is just a number
As previously established, the TT RS is an old car. It doesn’t have a hip differential. But right now, his propulsion could be clenched socks; we wouldn’t care. There is nothing better imaginable than this car with this engine in this place.
We are bouncing with happiness as we fly the Audi TT RS Roadster up the historic rally track. The sound is second to none, the melodious howl of a rare beast – deep yet clear, ominous, invigorating. In lesser Audis we tolerate the S-tronic transmission, but here and now it’s brilliant: pull a pinball and it reacts, thinks and it does. It fits beautifully on the bike, on the road, on us. The TT and we storm this Alp as one.
Bad asphalt is no problem for the Audi TT RS Roadster
The asphalt is wet and here and there lousy. The compact Audi dances and jumps, hops and claws its way up. It’s low and stocky, its steering precise, its undercarriage focused. The brakes aren’t ceramic, but treat them with respect – short and hard action, maximizing cooling time – and they’ll give you confidence corner after corner. We should not exaggerate: the TT is not a feather-light super go-kart, this is not the ultimate form of driving. But it’s such a good balance, such an addictive cadence. And it’s so easy and natural to run it at 80 percent.
The stubbornness of the Audi TT RS Roadster goes further than its engine and its behaviour: no central display that demands all the attention, but a clean dashboard with a universal counter screen. No separate air conditioning panel, but a very original idea of operation in the ventilation openings. This is a splurge within the solid Audi range, a brightly sparkling gem – with a heart so full and beautiful that we don’t really deserve it. Technology in the name of the environment and climate is wonderful and much needed; but at the moment we are whining, sucking and nagging the combustion engine via asthmatic three-cylinder ruthless into oblivion. Well, this boy is still here. The 2.5 TFSI reflects its five-voice reverberation against the mountainside and makes us feel alive again.
Video: Audi TT RS (coupé) on the Col de Turini
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Specifications Audi TT RS (2022)
engine
2,480 cc
five-cylinder turbo
400 hp @ 5850 rpm
480 Nm @ 2,250 rpm
Drive
four wheels
7v automatic
Performance
0-100 km/h in 3.9 s
top 250 km/h
Consumption (average)
8.7 l/100 km
199 g/km CO2, G label
Dimensions
4,201 x 1,832 x 1,345mm (lxwxh)
2,505mm (wheelbase)
1,540 kg
55 l (petrol)
280 l (luggage)
Prices
€102,657 (NL)
€ 78,150 (B)