Super-quick Audi TT RS Plus hits Oz at $140K

AUDI has unleashed its pumped-up TT RS Plus coupe on Australian shores, delivering 0-100km/h in 4.1 seconds and a 280km/h top speed for $139,900 plus on-road costs – a modest $500 over the standard TT RS it replaces.

Shaving 0.2s off the five-cylinder turbocharged coupe’s already impressive acceleration time makes the TT RS Plus quicker than a Porsche Carrera 4S PDK costing more than twice as much, let alone its Boxster S price rival (4.8s).

It also shames exotica like the the $386,391 Aston Martin V12 Vantage and $450,000 Bentley Continental GT Speed, while matching the $502,204 Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 E-Gear and coming close to its soon-to-be-updated R8 V10 big brother (3.9s).

At $76,990, Australia’s home-grown FPV GT R-Spec is the most affordable car to come close with a 4.7-second time (matched by the $162,300 BMW M3 coupe), while the $156,900 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG coupe is the Audi’s closest rival for acceleration and price.

However none of the above can match the TT’s official combined (98 RON premium) fuel consumption figure of 8.5 litres per 100 kilometres.

Standard quattro all-wheel-drive provides all-weather traction and is a major contributor to the RS Plus achieving that headline-grabbing acceleration figure, along with its quick-shifting seven-speed dual-clutch transmission with launch control function.

Audi turned the wick up on its 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo-petrol engine by 15kW and 15Nm, resulting in 265kW and 465Nm for a power to weight ratio of 180kW per tonne, and wound back the electronic speed limiter to liberate an extra 30km/h at the top end.

Differentiating this swansong for the second-generation TT sportscar range – before an all-new third-generation model materialises in the next year or so – are carbon-fibre mirror housings, a polished anthracite radiator grille with matte-aluminium frame and chunky black dual exhaust outlets.

Inside, the gear selector is dressed with TT RS Plus badging and aluminium-look trim, while under the bonnet is a carbon-fibre engine bay dress-up pack.

Unique 19-inch black five-spoke Rotor-design alloys with contrasting red spoke tips and outer rim finish the look, but this polarising feature can be deleted as a no-cost option.

Behind the wheels are perforated front brake discs clamped by four-piston callipers and Audi’s adaptive ‘magnetic ride’ damping system.

The distinctive five-cylinder engine note of the TT RS is enhanced with an active exhaust system that intensifies the sound when Sport mode is selected.

Standard equipment carried over from the standard TT RS includes sat-nav, RS bucket seats in with Nappa leather upholstery, Xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights, flared sills, RS-specific bumpers with rear diffuser and a fixed boot-lid spoiler.

Those wanting more a more practical RS Audi can opt for the $149,400 RS4 Avant, a V8-powered wagon that has also just gone on sale in Australia – but it is comparatively slow to 100km/h at 4.7 seconds.