Robert Moore wrote:Originally, we expected to see the TT-RS Coupe debut at the New York Auto Show and the TT-RS Roadster to come later on at the Paris Auto Show in October. Audi threw us all for a loop, however, and decided to pull the sheet off both at the Beijing Auto Show. Since we’ve been itching to see the Roadster like there is no tomorrow, join me on a stroll down the page as we talk about the new TT-RS Roadster in detail. There are some exciting things to talk about, if you’re an Audi fan, that is.
Exterior
Looking at the previous-generation TT-RS Roadster and the new-gen model side by side, we can see that the exterior styling is more refined than ever, but more aggressive at the same time. Up front, the car has maintained its smooth and unadulterated hood, but the four-ring badge now graces the tip of the hood as opposed to sitting inside the grille. Speaking of which, the grille has also changed dramatically. It now has a hexagonal shape, with honeycomb mesh. On the bottom edge of the grille, the Quattro logo is prominently displayed.
Now that the hood has been redesigned and doesn’t curve down at the nose, the headlights now take on a less rounded shape and are recessed under the hood just a little bit on the inside edge, giving the front end more of a 3D effect. On the corners of the fascia, the vents have been redesigned. There aren’t as wide as they were on the outgoing model, and now feature a vertical louver toward the outside edge and honeycomb mesh. The small air dam-like vent below the grille now has two vertical louvers, which add even more character to the front end.
On the sides, there is more evidence of the car’s redesign. The side view mirrors now have shorter arms and sit a little lower than before. The same body line runs from the front wheel arch back to the rear. Down below, however, the protruding body line between the front wheel arches is gone, and the side skirts no have more aggressive styling. The taillights still wrap around from the rear and terminate into a sharp point where the rear fascia meets the rear quarter. The car comes standard with 19-inch wheels, but can be optioned with 20-inch, forged lightweight rollers.
To the rear, we can see that the rear decklid and the taillights were redesigned. The end sides of the decklid now slant inward, which means the taillights now come to a sharper point at the base of the decklid. There is a body line that runs the width of the rear fascia, and down below, there is a new rear diffuser. The new diffuser is now all black, and the exhaust outlets in each corner look to have moved inward a bit. A small spoiler on the rear decklid rounds off the aerodynamically enhanced exterior of the new TT-RS Roadster.
Interior
It looks like Audi put just as much time into redesigning the interior as it did the exterior. For starters, the TT-RS Roadster comes standard with Audi’s fully digital virtual cockpit. The 12.3-inch display screen makes up the instrument cluster and offers three different views, with the most important being a special “RS” screen that displays the tachometer as well as information regarding tire pressure, torque, and g-force, among others. For the record, this is the mode you’ll want the instrument cluster in as you power around your local track on the weekend.
The screen also displays a virtual shift light, so you don’t forget to shift up as you have fun in those higher gears. Another new development inside is the RS sport leather steering wheel. It has shift paddles and two satellite buttons that are used to fire up and shut down the engine and alter the driving dynamics. The idea is that the driver doesn’t have to remove his hands from the wheel to make any changes to the car’s handling capabilities.
On the entertainment side of things, the TT-RS Roadster can be optioned with Audi’s MMI navigation plus infotainment system with MMI touch, Audi connect with Wi-Fi hotspot, and natural voice control. With the built-in phone box, cell phones can be charged inductively and paired with the on-board antenna. Selected apps from the phone can be accessed and displayed directly on the virtual cockpit screen, so with that said, who needs a co-pilot? Of course, the entertainment system wouldn’t be complete without a Bang & Olufsen sound system.
As you look over the interior, you can see other interesting changes as well. Now that the in-dash display screen isn’t mounted in the center stack, the three center vents have now been dropped down a bit and sit at an angle. A small host of buttons sits directly below the center vents, offering certain HVAC functions and the ability to access the hazard lights. Most notably, the center console has changed rather dramatically. The handbrake is now electronic, so there was no need for a handle cutout in the console. That said, the console is now more refined with the shifter in the middle, and a knob just below it to control various other functions. Carbon fiber inserts cover the face of the center console as well has the door handles. Furthermore, the seats have taken a new design with white contrast stitching and a diamond quilted pattern in the middle. All told, it’s a pretty big and welcomed departure from the outgoing model.
Drivetrain
There is even more to talk about on the drivetrain front. The 2.5-liter TFSI has been voted as the “Engine of the Year” six times in a row, and Audi is hoping to increase that number. The 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine has been developed even more and features a more lightweight construction, reduced internal friction and increased power delivery. Audi Audi didn’t go too far into details as far as exactly what it did to the aluminum engine, but it now delivers 400 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. That’s a 60 horsepower and 24 pound-foot improvement over the previous model. Special attention has been paid to cylinder placement and firing order to ensure that the engine delivers a favorable and pleasing rhythm at high or low engine speeds.
Power is routed from through a seven-speed S Tronic transmission, and power is delivered to all four wheels via the Quattro all-wheel-drive system. With the Audi drive select system, the driver can change settings for the all-wheel-drive system, steering, transmission, engine performance, and exhaust flaps. Modes available include comfort, auto, dynamic, and individual. According to Audi, the TT-RS Roadster can hit the 60-mph sprint in 3.9 seconds – 0.2-seconds slower than the TT-RS Coupe – and has an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph. That top speed limit, however, can be increased to 173 mph upon special request.
