Exclusive and performance-focused: the market launch of the Audi TT RS Coupé iconic edition, limited to 100 units in Europe with 11 examples bound for the UK, will celebrate the success story of a quarter-century for the Audi TT Coupé. This iconic sports car has been an inspiration the world over since its premiere in 1998 due to its pure driving dynamics and timeless design. The limited-edition Audi TT RS Coupé iconic edition stands out with its legendary five-cylinder performance combined with sporty design elements, both in the exterior and interior. In the UK, the Audi TT RS Coupé iconic edition will be priced from £87,650 (OTR), with customer deliveries beginning in the first quarter of 2023.
Timeless through time: the TT has been Audi’s design icon for almost a quarter of a century. Now the Audi TT RS Coupé iconic edition is continuing the trend into the future – a sports car with new innovations whilst retaining the typical TT RS properties: design and dynamics.
“The name of the Audi TT RS Coupé iconic edition says it all,” says Sebastian Grams, Managing Director of Audi Sport GmbH. “The edition model is reminiscent of the iconic TT design language, which at the same time stands for courage and elegance in uncompromising form. Thanks to the exclusive exterior and interior highlights, the much-loved performance of our ultimate sports coupé, with its multiple award-winning five-cylinder engine, is not only palpable, but also visible to fans.”
Inspired by the Bauhaus: the TT Coupe
With a vision of ‘a car for enthusiasts’, Audi presented the Audi TT Coupé as a sports car study at the IAA in Frankfurt in the Autumn of 1995. Almost symmetrical, the Audi TT consistently followed a design principle based on geometric, circular shapes. Three years later, the coupé went into production almost unchanged. One year after the TT Coupé, Audi launched the TT Roadster. In its second model generation, the Coupé was enhanced with an S and RS variant.
“The TT was inspired by the Bauhaus and its universal design philosophy of ‘less is more,’” says Head of Audi Design Marc Lichte. “The maximum reduction – the omission of everything unnecessary and insignificant – was so radical and so courageous that the TT, in its simplicity, quickly achieved the highest attribute of good design: to be timeless. Once you’ve achieved that, you’re beyond trends and yet you’re never out of fashion – simply because good style doesn’t wear out.”
This is why – three TT generations and a quarter of a century later – the typical lines of the 1998 coupé can still be found in the current TT RS Coupé iconic edition. The edition model also remains true to the idea of reduction to the essentials; the minimalist design extends from the clear exterior to the interior, which is still clearly and simply focused on the driver to this day. The typical tube and cylinder shapes, which blend into the interior of the instrument design, can also be found in the current Audi TT RS Coupé iconic edition – such as the standard fuel tank cap, round ventilation outlets, shift gate edging, and the striking gear knob. The enthusiasm that was declared back in 1995 continues to inspire the TT Coupé to this day.
Setting the Right Tone: Dark Elegance on the Exterior
The special edition Audi TT RS Coupé iconic edition confidently meets the high expectations set by its aesthetics. The RS-specific Nardo Grey finish sets the right tone for the exclusive and athletic demands of the special model. This elegant shade of grey was named after the legendary Italian race track, Pista di Nardó, where Audi RS models also rack up their first test kilometres. As one of the most popular individual finishes with customers, it ensures an optimal first impression.
The stylish feel is further enhanced by standard Matrix LED lights and the glossy black grille with a matte black single-frame, which clearly emphasizes the quattro lettering in a matte titanium look. The RS model also confidently wears side skirts in glossy black, along with the Audi rings, the TT RS model designation on the front and rear, as well as the casings of the exterior mirrors. The unique 20-inch glossy black alloy wheels with a seven-arm design and matching black brake calipers continue the design language down to the last detail. Partially frosted rear triangular windows with the exclusive “iconic edition” lettering complete the striking dark look of the coupé right down to the rear and the standard OLED rear lights.
Motorsports Genes: Aerokit Enhances Sporty Character
The Audi TT RS Coupé iconic edition also gains dynamic strength from the Aerokit, developed in a wind tunnel. Inspired by motorsports, the front apron features side flics, a front splitter, and blades in the side front air intakes.
At the rear, the fixed carbon rear wing, with its side winglets, ensures a sporty finish and, as part of the aerodynamic concept, supports both performance and efficiency.
There are vertical design elements on both sides above the RS-specific diffuser. The two striking, oval-shaped exhaust tailpipes remain the RS signature at the rear end.
The relationship between drag and lift was explicitly taken into account during the development of the Aerokit in the wind tunnel and is thus optimally balanced – improving both aerodynamics and driving performance. The increased contact pressure of the rear wing and rear diffuser places the sports car much more firmly on the road and significantly improves handling in fast corners.
11 of 100: Highly Exclusive Interior Design Accents
The interior of the TT RS Coupé iconic edition is characterized by exclusivity and attention to detail. Here, too, the dark colour scheme of the exterior remains the central motif, which is further accentuated by the deliberate use of accents from Audi-exclusive components. The RS sports seats are two-tone with fine Nappa side panels in jet grey and centre panels in black Alcantara, along with honeycomb stitching in calendula yellow. Exclusive “iconic edition” embroidery is embedded in the black Alcantara at shoulder height. The black floor mats are finished with RS embroidery in calendula yellow, whilst the door armrest and centre console are also in jet grey and decorated with contrast stitching in calendula yellow – just like the black cowl of the Audi virtual cockpit.
Further enhancements include black Alcantara on the door panels, the RS sports Alcantara steering wheel with calendula yellow marking at 12 o’clock, and a numbered badge on the selector lever which marks each of the 100 vehicles.
While the moody ambient light creates an atmosphere in the interior, the Bang & Olufsen Premium Sound System with 3D sound, enables a rich sound audible experience. A rear-view camera and comfort key enhance the day-to-day experience.
Form Needs Function: Legendary Five-Cylinder Engine Brings Unparalleled Sound
The TT RS Coupé iconic edition (combined fuel consumption in l/100 km**: – (NEDC); 9.1 (25.8 US mpg) (WLTP); combined CO2 emissions in g/km**: – (NEDC); 207 (333.1 g/mi) (WLTP)) relies on Audi Sport’s proven 2.5 TFSI engine with 400PS and maximum torque of 480 Nm. Numerous successes in motorsports make it one of Audi’s most compelling powertrains. Countless motorsports victories and strong day-to-day performance have earned the five-cylinder engine the “International Engine of the Year Award”, nine consecutive times since 2010.
As is typical of the TT RS, its power goes via a seven-speed S tronic to the permanent all-wheel quattro drive. An electro-hydraulically controlled multi-plate clutch, which debuted in 1998 as part of the Audi TT, distributes all-wheel power freely between the front and rear axles. The Audi drive select driving dynamics system allows the driver to control the quattro drive system and other components, such as steering, seven-speed S tronic, exhaust flaps, and engine characteristics.
The top speed of the TT RS Coupé iconic edition is increased to 174mph. This compact sports car sprints from 0-62mph in just 3.7 seconds. The engine provides a highly emotional driving experience, with its typical 1-2-4-5-3 firing order and the accompanying throaty sound. Because of the firing order, adjacent and non-adjacent cylinders fire alternately, producing a very specific rhythm and character which is emphasized by the RS Sport Exhaust system.
In addition to the usual low weight (1,475kg TT RS Coupé), the RS sport suspension plus with adaptive dampers in the Audi magnetic ride technology, ensure excellent handling and stability. Steering feel can also be adjusted through the Audi drive select driving dynamics system.
Audi team celebrates two decades of iconic design with an exclusive 20th Anniversary Edition of Audi TT. Already available for ordering, this bad boy has a lot to demonstrate. Let’s check it out!
There was this special guy who wanted to attract the attention of Vilner team. Long story short, he succeeded. Short story long, here’s what happened. The owner of this particular 1998 Audi TT considers the vehicle a special one in his life and therefore he wanted to grant it with something unique. His idea was to tune and tweak the design of the Audi in such a way that the original appearance is still present, but enhanced in a certain way.
Audi will grant buyers and brand enthusiasts with new super cool Black Edition models to honor the increasing number of sold units. The design team aims to tweak the most preferable models: A3, S3, TT, TT Roadster, S6 and S7 Sportback babies. Also, later this year there will be a new member entering the Black Edition club: the new Q3 SUV machine. Sweet.
Let’s talk about the new TT S line vehicles. As always, Audi team tries its best to deliver even better specs, performance rates and overall joy of driving. The additions include slight exterior styling tweaks, some more convenience additions for the interior and of course, improvements onto the drivetrain system. So, let’s see what is going on here!
From June 2016, the compact Audi models will offer some fresh additions to the drivetrain system in order to reduce the harmful emissions and gases. There will be new conditioning filters installed that reduce the environmentally unfriendly gasses. Benefitting from the new filter are the Audi A1, A3, Q3 and TT models.
Despite, the strong start of the auto show in Los Angeles, there are other ‘things’ going on in the automotive world and we should not deprive you from them. An instance is the latest project of the HPerformance based on the Audi TT RS. As a matter of fact, the tuning team claims that this is the worldwide strongest TT RS ever produced and the reason for this is that it pumps out 750 PS.
HPerformance Audi TT RS Clubsport is a project we couldn’t pass. The car not only looks amazing with its black ‘dress’ and purposeful stance, but also has more power than its stock siblings. This of course, brings it one step closer to the dream car of many (including me) with its 500+HP potency.
Audi Sport TT Cup is held in Summer’s hottest month, but this didn’t scare the winter champions to give it a try
I promised you more Audi news, didn’t I? Well, I’m going to talk about tuning again, so you must fasten your seatbelts, because I really dig creativity. The changes here are not that many but they are worth the attention. Under the spotlight is the Audi TT again. This car is actually one of the most successful Audi, which not only looks astonishing but also have the prerequisite sports characteristics.
Audi team demonstrated a different formula for building a sports car, that happened to be not just right, but good enough to bring numerous awards. The 2015 Audi TT TDI Ultra won the “Best Sportscar” award in the 2015 DieselCar Magazine Awards. The formula? High quality components, that only Audi team can bring with fewer stops at the filling station. The success belongs to the innovative minds, doesn’t it?
Not one but two debuts for ABT Sportsline at the Wörthersee meeting this year. The first car is a tuned Golf, which can pump out more than 400 horses, while the second is a TT coupe. The event has started yesterday and since then we are eagerly anticipating what’s next. Just to tease you a bit, prepare yourself for the reveal of the Fabia R5 Combi concept.
